Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-5509119th CongressWALLET
Safe Step Act
Sponsored By: Representative Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]
Introduced
Summary
Mandatory exceptions process for medication step therapy. H.R. 5509 would require group health plans and related insurers to create a clear, fast, and reviewable process so patients can get a prescriber‑chosen drug when clinical reasons justify bypassing step therapy.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster exceptions to step therapy in employer plans
If enacted, you or your prescriber could ask your employer plan to skip step therapy. Plans would have to decide in 72 hours, or 24 hours if your life, health, or maximum function is at risk. An exception would be allowed if required drugs failed, could cause harm, would block work or daily activities, or if you are stable on another drug already approved before, among other cases. The process would use a standard form, allow paper or online filing, limit requests to necessary info, and let a representative act for you. If approved, the plan would cover the drug using the plan year’s set cost-sharing, and keep that coverage for at least one year.
More transparency on step therapy decisions
If enacted, plans would report step therapy exception data to the Department within 3 years, and then every October 1. Reports would show counts by reason, approvals, denials, appeals, reversals, extra info requests, prescriber specialty, conditions, and PBM entities. The Secretary would publish an annual report to Congress and the public with trends by specialty and condition. Plans could not sign contracts with PBMs that block access to data needed for these reports.
When protections would start for workers
If enacted, these rules would apply to plan years that begin at least 6 months after enactment. That means some people could wait up to six months for the new protections to kick in. The Secretary of Labor would also issue final rules within 6 months to guide plans on how to comply.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]
GA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]
TX • R
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6]
MO • R
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]
IN • R
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3]
MO • R
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
VA • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
MD • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
UT • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1]
KS • R
Sponsored 11/7/2025
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]
GA • R
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 12/10/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
MA • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
FL • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/14/2026
Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9]
NC • R
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/20/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2]
AR • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
MI • R
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]
OH • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7]
NJ • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
KS • R
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
FL • R
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
SC • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Rep. Murphy, Gregory F. [R-NC-3]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]
VA • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]
IN • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
TN • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
WA • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2]
IA • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
PA • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]
CO • R
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
MS • R
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
IN • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
IL • R
Sponsored 5/21/2026
Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12]
OH • R
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 6/11/2026
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/30/2026
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2]
FL • R
Sponsored 9/1/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/1/2026
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/1/2026
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/14/2026
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 9/14/2026
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 9/14/2026
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 9/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov