Morelle pushes to lower healthcare costs for cancer patients
Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle
ROCHESTER – Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced bipartisan legislation to lower healthcare costs for cancer patients. The Cancer Drug Parity Act will ensure patient copays for oral medications are not higher than the copays for medications administered by a healthcare provider.
“The Cancer Drug Parity Act is a crucial step in ensuring health insurance coverage evolves alongside the remarkable advancements in cancer treatment,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “By bridging the gap between outdated technology and cutting-edge therapies, this act empowers patients to access the best care available. I’m grateful to my colleagues for joining me in prioritizing the well-being of individuals battling cancer—offering hope and relief when they need it most.”
New oral medications are less intrusive than traditional IV chemotherapy treatments, allowing individuals to manage their care at home. However, because they are self-administered, they are covered under pharmacy benefits. Currently, copays are unaffordable for many cancer patients. With out-of-pocket costs reaching $2,000, they are going without care.
The Cancer Drug Parity Act will end the practice of insurers covering oral and self-administered medicines at different cost-sharing rates than intravenous IV chemotherapy by:
- Expanding oral parity protections to privately insured patients whose health care is regulated at the federal level, such as Medicare.
- Preventing insurers from covering oral and self-administered medicines at different cost-sharing rates than IV chemotherapy.
- Implementing these requirements for health plans that already cover both oral and IV chemotherapy treatments.
