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Committee hears bill to limit step therapy for metastatic cancer; debate focuses on 'associated conditions' language
Summary
Senate Bill 422 would curb insurers' use of step therapy for people with advanced cancer, a group of patients advocates and physicians told the House Business and Labor Committee.
Senate Bill 422 would curb insurers' use of step therapy for people with advanced, potentially terminal cancer, returning treatment decisions to treating clinicians for those patients, proponents told the House Business and Labor Committee.
Sponsor testimony opened with a personal account about metastatic cancer and the limits of "step therapy," which is commonly called "fail first" by patients. "Step therapy is often called by patients fail first," said Becky Franks, a cancer support advocate, describing delays in access to newer or personalized cancer treatments.
Proponents included patient advocates, cancer survivors and medical organizations. Bobby Will of Susan G. Komen said metastatic breast cancer "is highly personalized and must be based on the decision made…
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