Doctors and patients loathe ‘step therapy’ rules, but insurers say they’re necessary. An Illinois bill would prohibit the practice.

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Doctors and patients loathe ‘step therapy’ rules, but insurers say they’re necessary. An Illinois bill would prohibit the practice.

Kim Albin has lost count of the number of times she’s had to battle health insurance companies over medications. Albin, who has been living with multiple sclerosis for nearly 30 years, said health insurers have told her time and again that they won’t cover medications her doctors have prescribed until she first tries alternate, often cheaper, ones. “It’s like playing Russian roulette,” said Albin, 65, of Carol Stream. Multiple sclerosis is a dis…