| 2/12/2013 |
Amore sponsors bill requiring coverage of oral chemotherapy treatments
STATE HOUSE – Rep. Gregg Amore (D – Dist. 65, East Providence) has introduced a parity bill similar to the one Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law in January, requiring health plans to cover oral cancer pills at a rate comparable to standard intravenous (IV) chemotherapy.
“This legislation aims to place oral pill chemotherapy treatment on par with IV chemotherapy, which in my eyes will protect cancer patients who need to take the pills from unfair hikes in cost,” Representative Amore said. “Cancer treatments are already so expensive. We need to make sure that Rhode Island is ensuring that all forms of chemotherapy are accessible and affordable. Right now we’re the only state in New England that hasn’t taken this measure or isn’t currently considering it.”
Oral chemotherapy is presently treated as a prescription drug benefit, which requires patients to pay a large amount of the drugs’ cost. IV chemotherapy is treated as a medical benefit, essentially requiring insurers to issue a modest patient co-pay and a limit to annual out-of-pocket expenses. If enacted, the legislation could save cancer patients thousands of dollars for a treatment that serves the same purpose as the intravenous form. It also recognizes the growing range of oncology drugs and leaves room for medical advances in oral treatments.
A 2008 National Comprehensive Cancer Network report stated that oral chemotherapy treatments make up more than 25 percent of the 400 cancer medicines that are in the process of being tested. Scientists have also been able to develop successful targeted therapies with oral treatments for certain types of cancer.
“It’s imperative not only for each patient’s chances of successful recovery, but out of fairness for those who do not wish to endure the IV drugs that we pass a law inclusive of both types of treatments,” Representative Amore said.
Cosponsors of the bill (2013-H 5354) include Representatives Katherine S. Kazarian (D – Dist. 63, East Providence), Helio Melo (D – Dist. 64, East Providence), Larry Valencia (D – Dist. 39, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter) and Mia A. Ackerman (D – Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln). It has been referred to the House Corporations Committee.
For more information, contact:
Brenna McCabe, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457 |
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