Idaho lawmaker wants to limit the cost of certain anticancer drugs. What to know
Cancer patients in Idaho could soon find it more affordable to access life-saving oral medications.
A new bill moving through the Legislature aims to create fairness in what patients pay for anticancer drugs, regardless of whether those medications come in pill form or are delivered by injection or intravenous infusion.
House Bill 530, introduced by the House Health and Welfare Committee, would require state-regulated health insurance plans to ensure that out-of-pocket costs for oral anticancer medications do not exceed what patients pay for other forms of cancer drugs.
Under the proposed legislation, insurance plans must either set the copayments, deductibles or coinsurance amounts for oral anticancer medications at no higher than those for injected or intravenously administered anticancer medications, or they must cap the monthly out-of-pocket costs for oral anticancer medications at $250 for a 30-day supply.
The bill would also prevent insurance companies from sidestepping the rules by increasing the copayment, deductible or coinsurance required for anticancer medications covered by health insurance plans or by reclassifying anticancer drugs in the plans.
Republican Rep. Chris Bruce of Kuna, the bill’s sponsor, said during a public hearing before the House Business Committee on Wednesday that the legislation is about creating fairness for Idaho cancer patients.
Other supporters argued that the bill levels the playing field for all cancer patients and allows doctors and patients to make treatment decisions based on medical need and not the patient’s pocketbook.
Lawmakers on the committee voted to send it to the full House with a do-pass recommendation. If passed and signed into law, the bill would take effect July 1. There is no expected cost to the state or local governments, according to the bill’s statement of purpose.
