JEFFERSON CITY — Yesterday (3-19), the governor lent his signature to Senate Bill 668, filed by Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City. The bill requires financial parity for both oral and intravenous chemotherapy for patients fighting cancer.
“I am honored that this legislation was passed by the General Assembly and signed so quickly,” said Sen. Silvey. “Obviously, this topic is of great importance to many Missourians, as so many have been affected by this terrible disease.”
Previously, intravenously administered chemotherapy treatments were often billed as a health benefit, requiring only a typical co-payment at the time of administration. However, oral chemotherapy has been considered a pharmacy benefit, not falling within the co-payment range, and could cost patients thousands of dollars for a 30-day cycle worth of medication, according to the American Cancer Society.
Oral chemotherapy is defined as a drug taken by mouth as a capsule, tablet or liquid. Since the medication is ingested instead of pushed directly into the bloodstream, overall damage to the patient’s body is lessened. Also, oral chemotherapy drugs are taken in the comfort of the patient’s home, instead of traveling to the doctor’s office or hospital.
Overall, oral chemotherapy has been proven to work as effectively as intravenous chemotherapy, is less stressful to take and causes less aggressive side effects.
“As strides are made in an ever-expanding medical field, it is only logical for insurance companies to cover these beneficial medications in the most equitable ways,” said Sen. Silvey.
Senate Bill 668 will take effect Aug. 28. To learn more about this or any other of Sen. Silvey’s measures, please visit www.senate.mo.gov/silvey and click on the legislation tab. |
