IBD Policy & Advocacy News
Federal and state IBD policy highlights with links to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Updated October 2026. Education only. For research headlines see News → Latest news.
Active in 2026
Congress · Step therapy · Pending · Updated Oct. 2026
Safe Step Act: ~46 Senate cosponsors, still awaiting floor action
The Safe Step Act (H.R. 5509 / S. 2903) would require group health plans to offer a clear, timely exceptions process when step therapy is not in a patient’s best interest. More than 40% of IBD patients report step therapy barriers that delay doctor-prescribed care.
As of early October 2026, S. 2903 lists roughly 46 Senate cosponsors (bipartisan) plus the sponsor, per public bill trackers, while remaining in the early legislative stage. Ask your members of Congress to cosponsor and move the bill.
Safe Step Act overview · Ask Congress to pass it · GovTrack: S. 2903
Federal regulation · Prior authorization · In effect
CMS prior authorization timelines are now law for many plans
Since Jan. 1, 2026, the CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057-F) requires Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act marketplace plans to decide urgent prior auth requests within 72 hours and standard requests within 7 calendar days.
The first public prior authorization performance metrics from impacted payers were due March 31, 2026. The next major milestone: FHIR-based prior auth APIs required by Jan. 1, 2027.
CMS fact sheet · CCF prior authorization guide · Take action (CCF)
2026 policy timeline
- Jan. 1, 2026: Faster prior authorization decision timelines under CMS-0057-F took effect for impacted federal plans
- March 31, 2026: First public prior authorization performance metrics due from impacted payers
- Spring 2026: Foundation #IBDinDC Hill meetings on Safe Step Act, research funding, and pediatric access
- Oct. 2026: Safe Step Act (S. 2903) still pending with roughly 46 Senate cosponsors
- Jan. 1, 2027: Prior authorization and interoperability FHIR APIs required in production (next milestone)
Advocacy highlights
- #IBDinDC (2026): Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation volunteers met with Members of Congress on Safe Step Act, research funding, and pediatric access
- Step therapy hearing: Rep. Lucy McBath and patient advocates highlighted how fail-first protocols can delay biologics
- Prior auth pushback: After thousands of patient letters and a rally, UnitedHealthcare delayed a planned expansion of prior authorization for many endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures
Source: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation federal and grassroots advocacy updates.
Take action
- CCF Action Center - contact lawmakers in two clicks
- Support the Safe Step Act
- Appeal letter templates for denied biologics and treatments
- Step therapy state legislation
More resources
Latest IBD news · IBDPal site updates · About MediVue · Trusted clinical sources · Find support by state