Last year, it got to the House late and was offered only as an amendment to another bill.

As a result, the effort to stop insurance companies from denying coverage for some prescription medications died in debate.

This year, its sponsors are back with bi-partisan support, and a head of steam.

"Insurance companies are practicing medicine without a license," Jefferson City physician Andrew Roudebush told a capitol news conference Wednesday.  "This is not only invasive and frustrating, it's dangersous."

A coaltion of doctors, druggists, and lawmakers wants to reign in "step therapy" where a patient must fail on a series of less-costly medications before the company will pay for the one his doctor prescribes.

There are lots of horror stories.

For example, St. Joseph Representative Martin Rucker could not get the medication his doctor prescribed for his blood pressure.

"I don't think it's right that someone who is 'bean counting' should make a decision on whether or not I live or die with high blood pressure," Rucker told reporters.

legislative assistant Tracey Joyce was forced to endure a series of ineffective substitutes for the Celebrex she needs for her arthritis.

"We're not talking name brand versus generic," insisted Joyce.  "We're talkin' different formulas."

The lawmakers echo that, saying the legislation is not designed simply to protect high-dollar, name-brand drugs from low-dollar, generic competitors.

And it's not even intended to end the practice of step therapy.

"However," explained Rep. Bryan Stevenson of Webb City, "when there is a valid medical reason why the physicians needs to override the step therapy, or override the medical switch, the physician should have the authority to do so."

In addition to ensuring that a doctor can intervene when step therapy is considered ineffective, Stevenson's bill also requires the patient to be notified of any cost benefit or financial incentives associated with a medication switch.