What is step therapy?

There are hundreds of different medications, with more becoming available every day. One way Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network make sure you get the safest, most effective and reasonably-priced drug available is by using programs like step therapy.

What is step therapy?

Step therapy is trying other medications first before “stepping up” to drugs that cost more. To help keep costs down for everyone, we want to know that less expensive options don’t work before your plan will cover the drug. Here’s an example of step therapy:

• You try an over-the-counter medication for your allergy, but it doesn’t control your symptoms.
• Your doctor prescribes a prescription drug that still doesn’t give you relief.
• A third medication that's more expensive works well, but requires step therapy.

In this case, your prescription is covered if you've tried the first choice drugs. If you haven't tried step therapy, the drug may cost you more, or may not be covered at all.

What do I need to do if my prescription requires step therapy?

If your drug needs approval, either you or your pharmacist will need to let your doctor know. They might switch your therapy to another drug that doesn’t require approval from the health plan. Or your doctor will contact our Pharmacy Help Desk to start the approval process and tell us the information we need.

How do I find out if my prescription requires step therapy?

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network members can find out if step therapy is required by logging on to Member Secured Services. You’ll need to know the name of the medication, the dosage, and how often you’ll be taking it.

• After you've logged in, select the Hospitals, Physicians and Medications tab. The link to Medco Online Pharmacy will take you directly to Express Scripts (Medco's old name). You won't have to log in again.
  

• In the left-hand column under “Prescriptions & benefits,” select “Price a medication” and follow the instructions. You’ll get an alert if the medication needs a coverage review. This tells you step therapy may be required. Your doctor can ask for a coverage review by calling 1-800-437-3803.

You can also look on your plan’s drug list (a list of approved medications). On a regular drug list, if your prescription has an ST after the name, it needs step therapy. Most plans also have a special list of drugs that require step therapy.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Traditional and PPO plans)

• Custom Formulary Prior Authorization/Step Therapy Drug List (PDF)
  
• Clinical Formulary Prior Authorization/Step Therapy Drug List (PDF)
• Select Prior Authorization Drug List (PDF)

Blue Care Network (HMO) plans

• Blue Care Network Prior Authorization and Step Therapy Guidelines (PDF)
  

Medicare

• Blue Care Network Medicare (BCN Advantage℠) members
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Medicare plan members

Related Items

• How do I know if my plan covers my prescription drug?
• How to read a drug list
• Why do I need prior authorization for a prescription drug?
• How to save money on prescription drugs