What's Wrong with Step Therapy for Wet AMD?

Dr. Paul Sternberg addresses step therapy for neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). His practice of about 10 ophthalmologists unwittingly adopted the practice 5 years ago as a way to standardize their procedures, and to benefit clinic staff and the pharmacy. He emphasizes the need for agreed-upon definitions and clear criteria for treatment failure that allow for switching to another agent. The administrative burden for handling insurance authorizations doesn't necessarily increase, as pre-authorizations for drugs and for switching to new ones already existed.