Representative Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) was successful in passing her Oral Cancer Medication bill in both the House and Senate - legislation that advocates have been working on for years.
The Senate passed House Bill 4071 with 36 yes and 2 no votes, and the bill is now headed to Governor Whitmer’s desk for further consideration. Organizations like the Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology, American Cancer Society Action Network, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and many others were instrumental in final passage of the legislation.
Creating parity between oral chemotherapy and intravenous cancer treatments has been contested for over 15 years. Some argued against this bill as they feared premiums would increase for Michigan residents while only helping a small percentage of the population. However, Steckloff hopes that the bill will help cancer patients have a more accessible and affordable cancer treatment. The medication taken orally can help cancer patients by allowing them flexibility in where they are taking their medication instead of being at a hospital and receiving treatment for hours on end.
The bill would amend the Insurance Code so that oral chemotherapy would be covered at similar rates as intravenous cancer treatments. Oral cancer medication has often been underneath pharmacy insurance policies, causing the two different forms of treatment to be covered differently. The passage of the bill comes after the S1 substitute changed the Michigan Association of Health Plans’ opposition. The S1 substitute changed the minimum coverage for insurance companies to not have to change their insurance policy to $250 for a 30-day supply instead of the $150.
