The California Legislature approved a bill (AB 374) last week to allow providers to sidestep the so-called “step therapy” rule, under which health insurers can require some patients to fail one therapy protocol before they’re allowed to move on to a more expensive one.

The cost-saving rule can be disastrous to some patients with severe illnesses such as lupus, epilepsy or multiple sclerosis, according to Assembly member Adrin Nazarian (D-Sherman Oaks), the bill’s author.