privacy law. . (b) Effective date Section 2715B of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 9. Required exceptions process for medication step therapy protocols (a) Short title This section may be cited as the Safe Step Act . (b) Required exceptions process for medication step therapy protocols The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after section 713 of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1185b ) the following new section: 713A. Required exceptions process for medication step therapy protocols (a) In general In the case of a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering coverage offered in connection with such a plan that provides coverage of a prescription drug pursuant to a medication step therapy protocol, the plan or issuer shall— (1) implement a clear, prompt, and transparent process for a participant or beneficiary (or the prescribing health care provider (referred to in this section as the prescriber ) on behalf of the participant or beneficiary) to request an exception to such medication step therapy protocol, pursuant to subsection (b)