BILL EXPANDS CANCER TREATMENT
The House Economic Development/banking/insurance & Commerce Committee advanced a bill this week –, aiming to broaden treatment accessibility for a specific form of cancer. Sponsored by representative Cyndie Romer of Newark — House Bill 364 mandates individual, blanket, and group health insurance providers to cover drug treatments for associated conditions of metastatic cancer on par with treatments for the cancer itself. The committee approved the bill unanimously.
Metastatic cancer, which spreads from its original site to other parts of the body, affects over 623,405 Americans, as reported by the National Cancer Institute. The bill defines “Associated conditions” as symptoms or side effects of metastatic cancer or its treatment, posing additional health risks if left unaddressed.
HB 364 also tackles step therapy, preventing insurers from enforcing patients to fail on alternative medications before accessing the recommended treatment. Notably, the bill’s scope is confined to cancer-related conditions.
With no anticipated fiscal impact on the state, if passed, the bill would come into effect on December 1, 2025. HB 364 now proceeds to the house floor for further deliberation.
