CARSON CITY (AP) - Advocacy groups for cancer patients are hailing a new Nevada law designed to lower costs for patients on oral medication.
Gov. Brian Sandoval this week signed legislation that makes Nevada the 25th state with what supporters call an oral oncology parity law.
The law will require insurers to provide coverage for oral medication that is equivalent to conventional intravenous drugs.
It comes at a time when over 30 percent of some 500 anti-cancer drugs under development are oral medications.
In Nevada, cancer patients usually have a flat co-payment for intravenous drugs with an annual out-of-pocket cap. Those drugs are covered as a medical benefit because they're usually given in a doctor's office or hospital.
Patients on oral drugs usually pay 10 to 50 percent of the drug's cost with no annual out-of-pocket limit. Oral medications are considered a pharmacy benefit since they can be taken at home. Oral drugs are expensive, costing up to tens of thousands of dollars a year.
Zina Cary, national state affairs consultant for the International Myeloma Foundation, said the new law will end the disparity facing patients on oral medication.
"As a result, Nevada patients living with multiple myeloma will soon have affordable access to the most effective treatment for their cancer without having to worry about breaking the bank," Cary said.
Jim Denton, spokesman for the Nevada Cancer Coalition, said he was pleased because it costs many cancer patients tens of thousands of dollars to pursue oral medication under the current system. He noted a similar bill did not even get a hearing last session.
There's no evidence the law has increased health insurance premiums in the other states that have passed similar legislation, supporters said.
The measure drew Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, with Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis the prime sponsor.[[In-content Ad]]
