Miss. lawmaker and insurance commissioner back bill to exempt metastatic cancer patients from step therapy

Representative Craig Moore briefed the Insurance Committee on Sept. 11 about House Bill 1143, legislation that would prohibit insurers from requiring step therapy (fail-first) protocols for patients diagnosed with stage 4 or metastatic cancer.

Moore said the bill is designed to allow patients with advanced cancer to access the most effective medicine immediately, rather than requiring them to try and fail on less-effective therapies first. "It gives the patient the chance to go on and receive the most effective medicine available," Moore said, and noted the change would have immediate clinical relevance in end-stage cancer care.

Commissioner Mike Chaney, who participates in oversight on the State and School Employees Health Insurance Board, told the committee such a change can save lives by avoiding treatment delays. "I will tell you that what it does, it saves lives," Chaney said, arguing that step therapy can delay appropriate treatment and, in some cases, cost patients meaningful survival time.

Committee members asked clarifying questions, and the chairman said the committee will revisit legislation that previously contained a repealer provision. The discussion flagged the bill as a legislative item the committee expects to consider in the next session; no committee vote or formal adoption occurred during the meeting.