Date: 05/04/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-250

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to postpone Senate Bill 09-250 indefinitely.
Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-250 to the Committee
PASS
FAIL



02:32 PM -- Senate Bill 09-250

Representative Primavera presented Senate Bill 09-250 which adds a mandatory coverage provision for any health benefit plan that currently covers cancer chemotherapy treatment to cover prescribed, oral anticancer medication on a basis no less favorable than that of the coverage provided for intravenously administered or injected cancer medications. Several handouts were provided to the committee including a fact sheet on the bill, a chart titled the Oregon Health Insurance Policies Affected by Oral Chemo Parity Mandate, and a rate filing summary for BlueCross BlueShield for Oregon (Attachments A, B, and C, respectively).

09HouseHHS0504AttachA.pdf 09HouseHHS0504AttachB.pdf

09HouseHHS0504AttachC.pdf

02:39 PM --
Susan Cox, Director of Government Relations, Kaiser Permanente, spoke in opposition to the bill. Ms. Cox provided a handout in opposition to the bill to the committee (Attachment D). She stated that Kaiser already covers all oral cancer medications. She stated that the decision whether to use an oral or an injectable chemotherapy drug is between a physician and a patient. She clarified that there is no preauthorization required for these types of medications. She spoke to the amendment that was put on in the Senate which adds coverage of generic oral chemotherapy drugs. She stated that there are very few generics offered for oral anti-cancer medications. Ms. Cox stated that the only state that has a similar law is Oregon and that the provision was implemented about a year ago. She stated that the results are not known yet. She read a statement from the Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee in Oregon (Attachment E). Ms. Cox stated that in the statement, the chairman regretted passing the bill and wished he would have vetted the bill more thoroughly. The chairman stated that the bill has increased the cost of the medication.

09HouseHHS0504AttachD.pdf 09HouseHHS0504AttachE.pdf

02:46 PM --
Ben Price, Colorado Association of Health Plans, spoke in opposition of the bill. A article from the Wall Street Journal titled "Drug Makers, Hospitals Raise Prices" was provided to the committee (Attachment F). He stated that the bill moves the drugs from being considered a pharmacy benefit with a copay to being covered as a medical benefit. He stated that medical benefits are paid on a percentage basis and that by moving the drug into the medical benefit category has actually increased the cost of the drugs.

09HouseHHS0504AttachF.pdf

02:53 PM --
Travis Berry, Colorado Competitive Council, spoke in opposition to the bill. He stated that it was unfair to mandate coverage of a drug that costs more and expect it to be covered as any other pharmacy benefit. He reiterated that health insurance mandates only increase the cost of premiums which are ultimately borne by the employer and employee.

2:59 PM -- Dana Dzwonkowski, American Cancer Society, spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Dzownkowski spoke to the increased quality of life that many cancer patients experience when taking oral anticancer medications. She spoke to the Oregon bill and stated that it has not increased the cost of premiums. Committee members asked the witness questions.

03:12 PM --
Stephanie Shulman, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, spoke in favor of the bill. She stated that the center provides financial support for individuals going through cancer treatment. She spoke to the increase in quality of life that many cancer patients have when taking oral anti-cancer medications.

03:15 PM --
Jill Bansek, Director, Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, spoke in favor of the bill. Ms. Bansek concurred with Ms. Shulman's testimony.


03:19 PM

Representative Primavera provided a wrap-up to the bill.
BILL:SB09-250
TIME: 03:20:43 PM
MOVED:Primavera
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-250 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a 4-7 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Green
VOTE
Acree
No
Gerou
No
Green
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
No
Nikkel
No
Primavera
Yes
Swalm
No
Gagliardi
No
Riesberg
No
Not Final YES: 4 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:SB09-250
TIME: 03:25:10 PM
MOVED:Gagliardi
MOTION:Moved to postpone Senate Bill 09-250 indefinitely. The motion passed on a 7-4 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Riesberg
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Green
No
Kagan
No
Kefalas
No
Kerr J.
Yes
Nikkel
Yes
Primavera
No
Swalm
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



03:26 PM

The committee adjourned.