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| Term: Step Therapy |
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| A program that requires for certain prescribed medications that you try a clinically effective, lower-cost medication (Step 1) before using a higher-cost medication (Step 2). Within specific therapy classes, there are often multiple drugs that are available to treat the same condition and have very similar side effects. The cost of these drugs, however can vary significantly. Physicians have reviewed these medications and determined, in most cases, they are interchangeable. The Step Therapy program will require that you try a clinically effective, lower-cost medication (Step 1) before using a higher-cost medication (Step 2 medication). If a trial with the (Step 1) medication was not appropriate for you, your physician can request approval to use a (Step 2) medication. |
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