Date: 03/18/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB10-1355

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer House Bill 10-1355 to the CommitteePASS



01:56 PM -- House Bill 10-1355

Representative Gagliardi presented House Bill 10-1355 which prohibits a health benefit plan from limiting or excluding coverage for a drug that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of one specific type of cancer on the basis that the drug has not been approved for another specific type of cancer. She stated that the drug must be recognized for treatment for that cancer in the reference compendia as identified by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Representative Gagliardi explained that an off-label drug means using a drug to treat a symptom or condition that the prescription medication was not approved by the FDA for that specific condition. A handout depicting how many states have adopted legislation on the issue was distributed to the committee (Attachment C).

100318AttachC.pdf

01:59 PM -- Dr. Alex Menter, Rocky Mountain Oncology Society, spoke in favor of the bill. He stated that several of his patients fall into a category where a cancer drug would be beneficial for the patient, but the drug has not been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for treatment of that particular cancer. He explained instances where a pharmaceutical company would choose not to ask the FDA to approve the drug for a different use due to the financial burden.

02:04 PM -- Debbie Hayes, Sanofi-Aventis, spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that bills have passed in other states and that there has been little controversy because Medicare covers the prescriptions.

02:05 PM -- Dana Dzwonkowski, American Cancer Society, spoke in support of the bill.

BILL:HB10-1355
TIME: 02:07:03 PM
MOVED:Gagliardi
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 10-1355 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Kerr J.
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Apuan
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




02:08 PM

The chair spoke to the upcoming schedule. The committee adjourned.