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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 13, 2012 03:25 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Robert M. Tomlinson |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Oral Oncology Benefit Design |
| Please join me is cosponsoring legislation that would allow cancer patients, in consultation with their physician, to be permitted to select their best treatment option. Treatment options for patients should not be limited on the basis of how the therapy is administered. For years, the mainstay of cancer treatment has been intravenous chemotherapy. This treatment is typically covered as part of an insured’s medical benefit. As the science of treating cancer has progressed, oral chemotherapy has emerged as an alternative treatment option. Oral chemotherapy is a significant and growing option for the cancer patient. Oral chemotherapy is typically covered as part of the prescription drug benefit. This fragmented coverage means a patient normally will experience significantly different out of pocket costs based how their treatment is administered. My legislation requires health insurers to provide coverage for orally administered chemotherapy on a basis that are as least as favorable as an insured’s co-pay; coinsurance or deductibles are for intravenous or injected chemotherapy treatment. The information below indicates the prior session bill number and cosponsors: SB 1487 Tomlinson, Pileggi, Ward, Rafferty, Folmer, Boscola, Brewster, Orie, Scwank, Dinniman, Washington, Yudichak, Farnese, Solobay, Mensch, Pippy, Costa and Ferlo |
Introduced as SB402