Congressmembers Higgins, Guthrie, Matsui and Bilirakis Announce Introduction of the Cancer Drug Parity Act
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- Legislation Ensures Cancer Patients Have Equivalent Access to Oral Chemotherapy
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Congressmembers Brian Higgins (D -NY-26),
"Innovative research has led to more effective and accessible treatment options for Cancer patients, but insurance coverage hasn't kept pace," said
"Insurance companies shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose what kind of treatment a cancer patient should receive - that should be left up to the medical professionals," said
"Cancer patients should have access to whichever treatment gives them the best chance to fully recover. Technological advancements are improving patient outcomes while minimizing side effects. Patients deserve to benefit from these advancements. This important bill addresses this problem and enables patients to keep their primary focus on getting well," said
Oral chemotherapy is increasingly becoming a standard treatment option for cancer doctors and patients, representing approximately 35% of the oncology development pipeline. However, insurance coverage for cancer treatment has not kept up with science.
Under current law, traditional IV/injectable treatments are routinely covered under the medical benefit component of a health insurance plan, while orally-administered anti-cancer medications are generally covered under the prescription drug component, which often results in a considerable disparity in cost.
Additional original cosponsors on the
"The exciting advancements in cancer research mean that many patients now can live with diseases that just a few years ago would have taken their life," said
"Pioneering research in precision medicine is transforming the way cancer is treated. Even with these breakthroughs, far too many cancer patients face burdensome out-of-pocket costs and cannot access their treatments because insurance rules have not kept pace with innovation," said
Organizations supporting the bill include: AIM at Melanoma,
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