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Senate committee approves bill to limit prior authorization delays for chemotherapy
Summary
The committee recommended Senate File 205 for passage to HHS after testimony describing prior-authorization delays for cancer treatment and the bill’s intent to reduce harmful waits for oncology care.
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee voted March 6 to recommend Senate File 205, a bill amending prior-authorization rules for chemotherapy medications, to the Health and Human Services Committee.
Senator Mann presented the bill, citing an editorial and constituent case that motivated the legislation: the author of the bill recounted an instance in which a patient was billed $100,000 for chemotherapy that was later approved, and described prior authorization as a source of delay and stress for patients undergoing urgent cancer treatment. “Cancer treatment cannot wait, mister chair,” Senator Mann said.
Committee discussion focused on whether the bill would increase costs if prior authorization for expensive cancer drugs were reduced. Dan Andreesen and other witnesses had earlier told the committee that some prior authorization processes also serve as safety checks and can limit costs; the committee discussed that treating chemotherapy drugs differently could have significant fiscal implications because these drugs can cost tens of thousands per dose. Senator Rasmussen asked whether the bill had been subject to a 62J review; the chair stated it was not, because the measure modifies prior-authorization law rather than being a new benefit mandate.
Senator Mann told the committee that last session’s prior-authorization changes had excluded medications because it was hard to quantify their fiscal impact; this bill seeks to extend those protections to chemotherapy agents. Members requested a fiscal note before HHS consideration; Senator Mann said one had been requested but was not yet available.
The committee voted to recommend SF 205, as amended, be passed and referred to Health and Human Services. The motion was made by Senator Seaburger and adopted by voice vote.
