Summary: To amend the Public Health Service Act to require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide for cost sharing for oral anticancer drugs on terms no less favorable than the cost sharing provided for anticancer medications administered by a health care provider. Cosponsors
ANGIE CRAIG’S POSITION: Representative Craig cosponsored the bill on 5/23/19.
- “After hearing about disparities in insurance coverage for people living with cancer in MN on my Healthcare Listening Tour, I cosponsored the Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act requiring insurers to cover life-saving oral cancer treatments.” (Source: Twitter, Rep. Craig Tweet, 6/07/19)
- “People in the Second District dealing with a cancer diagnosis have enough to worry about without the added stress of figuring out whether or not their insurance will cover their treatment,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m proud to support the Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act to make sure every treatment option is covered equally so patients are able to make the treatment plan that is best for them.” (Rep. Craig, Press Release, 6/04/19)
STATUS: Introduced 3/13/19 by Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26].
INFORMATION RELATED TO THE BILL:
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is proud to support the Cancer Drug Parity Act, which will remove a key financial barrier that prevents some patients from accessing their prescribed cancer treatments. (Source: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
- The Coalition to Improve Access to Cancer Care (CIACC) and its members from across the cancer patient and provider community today applauded Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tina Smith (D-MN), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) for introducing legislation to bring fairness to the way that cancer medications are covered by insurance companies. Additionally, the coalition praised the work of Representatives Higgins (D-NY 26), Guthrie (R-KY 2), Matsui (D-CA 6) and Bilarakis (R-FL 12) for sponsoring a House version of the legislation. (Source: Market Watch)
ADDITIONAL DETAIL: