H.B. 609 – The Cancer Treatment Fairness Act of NC

From Mike Lawing:
Dear Fellow Travelers:

I’m attaching some information about a bill that is working its way through the North Carolina state legislature. This bill entitled “H.B. 609 – The Cancer Treatment Fairness Act of NC” would update antiquated insurance laws to ensure that all chemotherapy, regardless of form, will be accessible and affordable to cancer patients.

Many current insurance plans cover intravenous and injected/infused chemotherapies as a medical benefit much differently than oral chemotherapies which is covered as a pharmacy benefit. As a result, for many the out-of-pocket expenses for patients prescribed an oral cancer treatment regime are cost prohibitive and out of reach.

To date, 23 states and the District of Columbia have enacted oral chemotherapy “parity” legislation including OK, VA, LA, OR, WA, CO, NE, KS, IA, MN, IN, VT, NY, NM, HI, MD, CT, MA, IL, DE, MD, TX, and UT. In addition to North Carolina several other states are considering similar legislation at this time.

I would encourage all of us who reside in states that have this legislation pending to contact our representatives; for those who live in North Carolina I am attaching links to the advocacy website that has been set up about this bill and also a link to an article about it that appeared in the Raleigh News and Observer. The website has much more information about the proposed legislation and how to contact state representatives. Not surprisingly, the insurance industry opposes this legislation, while the medical community and numerous cancer support organizations are very much in support of this proposal.

Even if you have never written a personal note to your representatives, or if this or similar legislation is being considered in your state, this would be a great time to become involved!

H.B. 609 – The Cancer Treatment Fairness Act of NC

http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015/Bills/House/PDF/H306v1.pdf

This bill is still in process in North Carolina.  Many more states have adopted similar provisions, and a similar campaign is being waged in Canada.  See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfBg2J2sM1M