Insurance industry drops opposition to Ohio cancer treatment parity bill

Officials with Ohio health insurance companies have indicated that the industry no longer opposes proposed cancer treatment parity legislation (Source: “Ohio insurers no longer oppose legislation intended to reduce costs for some cancer patients,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 21, 2014).

Insurers have long-opposed bills that would classify oral chemotherapy drugs as medical treatments instead of as prescription medications, as they have in the past. Critics of the change claimed it would make insurance premiums increase.

But the Senate added language to Senate Bill 99 exempting insurers from equal coverage if they can prove it generated higher premiums. Insurers didn't fight the measure when it moved to the House earlier this month.

Insurance companies usually consider oral chemotherapy drugs as a prescription benefit, while intravenous chemotherapy is considered a medical treatment like surgery. Medical treatments tend to be paid at a lower rate negotiated between the insurance company and the hospital and are applied to a patient's deductible. As a prescription, patients pay a hefty co-pay or even full price.

One of the bill's sponsors, Columbus Democratic Sen. Charleta Tavares, said 29 states have passed oral parity legislation with little or no impact on health insurance premiums.

The Senate committee advanced the bill in December after hearing personal stories of Ohio families struggling to pay the bills for oral chemotherapy.

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