To: President Donald Trump, The Illinois State House, The Illinois State Senate, Governor J.B. Pritzker, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Federal Medicare chemotherapy drug fairness parity
Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act
Medicare coverage under plan B for oral chemotherapy drugs. Drug fairness and parity for cancer victims when they receive Medicare plan B.
Medicare coverage under plan B for oral chemotherapy drugs. Drug fairness and parity for cancer victims when they receive Medicare plan B.
Why is this important?
The Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act
Outdated Medicare Plan B coverage policies
Traditionally, IV chemotherapy treatments are covered under a Medicare Plan B plan benefit. Conversely, oral anticancer medications are covered under Medicare's plan D prescription benefit and retired cancer patients are responsible for extremely high and unmanageable
copays, creating an enormous barrier for patients to access orally administered drugs and lifesaving treatments for cancer patients
Medicare plan B should provide coverage for orally administered cancer treatment medications at the same rate as IV or injectable cancer treatment. A patient, especially a disabled or retired patient, should not be made to pay any more out of pocket for their oral cancer medications then they are asked to pay for their injectable or infusional cancer medications. A national oral chemotherapy access law is important, because it would offer protection to all insured patients, including those with Medicare coverage who comprise a large portion of patients with cancer. Right now, the state laws only apply to privately insured patients. If a federal law was passed it would apply equally to everyone.
The current Medicare Plan B covers IV chemotherapy, but oral chemotherapy isn't covered. As a result, people are out of pocket double and triple their SS income and still unable to afford the oral chemotherapy medications they so desperately need. We do not need the plan D with high level tiers, which are still unaffordable, to fill this gap, but rather the federal backing and passing of a chemotherapy oral drug parity law that would include compliance by Medicare plan B. Chemotherapy oral drugs should be covered under Medicare plan B for the wellbeing of every American.
Currently, state laws can only impact certain health plans and do not
apply to Medicare or Medicaid. Health plans covered
under the federal Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (ERISA) While orally administered anti-cancer drugs are
not without side effects, equal access to these drugs can
alleviate suffering and improve outcomes for many cancer
patients. Oral Parity increases access to oral chemotherapies,
helping patients and saving lives. Provides greater access to life-saving treatments: Drug coverage is one of the top problems for cancer patients. The disparity in coverage between intravenous/injectable treatments and orally administered anti-cancer pills further complicates this problem. Cancer patients should not have to wage a fight on coverage for a treatment.
Outdated Medicare Plan B coverage policies
Traditionally, IV chemotherapy treatments are covered under a Medicare Plan B plan benefit. Conversely, oral anticancer medications are covered under Medicare's plan D prescription benefit and retired cancer patients are responsible for extremely high and unmanageable
copays, creating an enormous barrier for patients to access orally administered drugs and lifesaving treatments for cancer patients
Medicare plan B should provide coverage for orally administered cancer treatment medications at the same rate as IV or injectable cancer treatment. A patient, especially a disabled or retired patient, should not be made to pay any more out of pocket for their oral cancer medications then they are asked to pay for their injectable or infusional cancer medications. A national oral chemotherapy access law is important, because it would offer protection to all insured patients, including those with Medicare coverage who comprise a large portion of patients with cancer. Right now, the state laws only apply to privately insured patients. If a federal law was passed it would apply equally to everyone.
The current Medicare Plan B covers IV chemotherapy, but oral chemotherapy isn't covered. As a result, people are out of pocket double and triple their SS income and still unable to afford the oral chemotherapy medications they so desperately need. We do not need the plan D with high level tiers, which are still unaffordable, to fill this gap, but rather the federal backing and passing of a chemotherapy oral drug parity law that would include compliance by Medicare plan B. Chemotherapy oral drugs should be covered under Medicare plan B for the wellbeing of every American.
Currently, state laws can only impact certain health plans and do not
apply to Medicare or Medicaid. Health plans covered
under the federal Employee Retirement Income
Security Act (ERISA) While orally administered anti-cancer drugs are
not without side effects, equal access to these drugs can
alleviate suffering and improve outcomes for many cancer
patients. Oral Parity increases access to oral chemotherapies,
helping patients and saving lives. Provides greater access to life-saving treatments: Drug coverage is one of the top problems for cancer patients. The disparity in coverage between intravenous/injectable treatments and orally administered anti-cancer pills further complicates this problem. Cancer patients should not have to wage a fight on coverage for a treatment.