Step Therapy

Medicare Glossary Topic.

A type of prior authorization where you must try a less expensive drug on the Medicare Part D plan’s drug list that has been effective for most people with your condition before you can be given a more expensive drug. Generally speaking, this means trying a more affordable generic version of a drug. The name brand drugs are known as Step 2 drugs and Medicare will not cover the cost of those until Step 1 drugs are tried first for treatment.