FILED ON: 7/19/2012

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2363

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Twelve

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An Act relative to oral cancer therapy.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 17I the following section:-

Section 17J. Any coverage offered by the commission to an active or retired employee of the commonwealth insured under the group insurance commission that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for  prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than intravenously administered or injected cancer medications that are covered as medical benefits.  An increase in patient cost sharing for anticancer medications shall not be allowed to achieve compliance with this section.

SECTION 2. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47AA the following section:-

Section 47BB.  Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than intravenously administered or injected cancer medications that are covered as medical benefits.  An increase in patient cost sharing for anticancer medications shall not be allowed to achieve compliance with this section.

SECTION 3. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8DD the following section:-

Section 8EE.  Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than intravenously administered or injected cancer medications that are covered as medical benefits.  An increase in patient cost sharing for anticancer medications shall not be allowed to achieve compliance with this section.

SECTION 4. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4DD the following section:-

Section 4EE.  Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than intravenously administered or injected cancer medications that are covered as medical benefits.  An increase in patient cost sharing for anticancer medications shall not be allowed to achieve compliance with this section.

SECTION 5. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4V the following section:-

Section 4W.  Any individual or group health maintenance contract that provides coverage for cancer chemotherapy treatment shall provide coverage for  prescribed, orally administered anticancer medications used to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells on a basis no less favorable than intravenously administered or injected cancer medications that are covered as medical benefits.  An increase in patient cost sharing for anticancer medications shall not be allowed to achieve compliance with this section.

SECTION 6. Sections 1 to 5, inclusive, shall apply to all policies, contracts and certificates of health insurance subject to section 17J of chapter 32A, section 47BB of chapter 175, section 8EE of chapter 176A, section 4EE of chapter 176B and section 4W of chapter 176G of the General Laws which are delivered, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2013.