Senators gave first-round approval Feb. 24 to a bill that would require insurance coverage of oral cancer medications.<\/p>\n
LB882, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Jeremy Nordquist, would require that a health policy, certificate, contract or plan provide coverage for a prescribed, orally administered anticancer medication that is used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than intravenously administered or injected cancer medications that are covered as medical benefits.<\/p>\n
The bill also would prohibit an insurance provider from reclassifying an anticancer medication or increasing a coinsurance, copayment, deductible or other out-of-pocket expense to offset the cost of complying with the bill.<\/p>\n
Many Nebraskans cannot obtain oral cancer treatment because it is not covered by their insurance plans, Nordquist said, even in cases where oral medication is the only treatment option.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese situations aren\u2019t hypothetical,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are happening every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lincoln Sen. Tony Fulton supported the bill, saying one of his constituents found herself in the situation the bill was meant to address. The constituent\u2019s son was diagnosed with cancer and the family discovered that their insurance policy covered only intravenous chemotherapy treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn her situation, the oral [treatment option] was preferable,\u201d Fulton said. \u201cIt gave her son a better chance to live, to beat his cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue also supported the bill, saying oral chemotherapy treatment often has fewer side effects and potential complications than intravenous treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of these oral chemotherapy drugs are cutting edge medication,\u201d she said. \u201cThey may cost more, but they work better and they work quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy urged senators to consider the potential cost of implementing the bill. Seventy-six percent of employers in Nebraska are small businesses that may not be able to absorb additional insurance costs, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can we look at LB882 and not look at the impact it will have on small business owners?\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n
Nordquist said 15 states have passed similar laws without a significant increase in premiums.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking pennies per member, per month if anything at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The bill advanced to select file on a 30-4 vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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