medicines
Step Therapy
段階的治療（ステップセラピー） (dankai-teki chiryō (suteppu serapi))
Step therapy, sometimes called 'fail first,' is a cost-control practice by insurers that requires patients to try and fail on lower-cost medications before the insurer will cover a more expensive drug. For example, a plan may require a patient to try a generic drug first; if it is ineffective or causes adverse effects, the insurer then authorizes the brand-name or specialty drug. Many states have enacted step therapy exception laws requiring insurers to provide override processes when step therapy is clinically inappropriate.
Physicians can request a step therapy exception when a first-line treatment is contraindicated or when the patient has already tried it without success.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Step Therapy |
| Japanese (日本語) | 段階的治療（ステップセラピー） |
| Chinese (中文) | 阶梯疗法 |
| Korean (한국어) | 단계적 치료 |
| Portuguese | Terapia Gradual |
| Spanish | Terapia Escalonada |
| Filipino | Step Therapy |
| Thai | การรักษาแบบขั้นบันได |
| Vietnamese | Liệu pháp từng bước |
| Romanization | dankai-teki chiryō (suteppu serapi) |
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Browse US healthcare guides →Last reviewed: September 2026