April 25, 2017

The Honorable Rodney Whittemore, Senate Chair
The Honorable Mark Lawrence, House Chair
Joint Standing Committee on Insurance & Financial Services
Room 220, Cross State Office Building
Augusta, Maine 04330

RE:    L.D. 1407, AN ACT REGARDING PRESCRIPTION DRUG STEP THERAPY

Dear Senator Whittemore, Representative Lawrence, and Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Insurance & Financial Services:

I apologize that I cannot attend the public hearing on L.D. 1407 this afternoon, but I am writing to express the MMA’s support for the bill. 

The MMA is a professional organization representing more than 4000 physicians, residents, and medical students whose mission is to support Maine physicians, advance the quality of medicine in Maine, and promote the health of all Maine citizens.

“Step therapy” is a common prescription drug utilization management technique used by health insurance carriers that presents clear trade-offs between cost and clinical considerations.  MMA believes that L.D. 1407 offers fundamental patient protections that are worthy of the Committee’s support.  As additional background on the bill, I have attached AMA House of Delegates Resolution 120.978, Principles of Drug Utilization Review.

Thank you for considering the MMA’s views on this bill and we urge you to vote “ought to pass” on it.

Sincerely,

Andrew B. MacLean

Enclosure