someone explain step therapy to me like I have not read a paper in years
Something I noticed reading old threads that I have not seen said out loud. The advice on prior authorization in this community changed substantially around the start of last year, and nobody went back and updated the older posts. So depending on which thread the search engine hands you, you get two contradictory…
Strongly agree. Step therapy is predictable if you have the criteria.
copay is separate from coverage
This is correct. Appeal letters work.
Edit to your parent would help — the concentration you quoted assumes one scenario and you have written another above it.
appeal letter templates are in the wiki