I promise to write this
weekend about the latest and greatest on my cancer treatment. However, right now, I have an urgent request
on the policy front.
In California, I have been
working on a very important piece of legislation, AB 1000 (Perea). This legislation requires health
care service plan contracts and health insurance policies which already provide
coverage for cancer treatment, to provide coverage parity for prescribed orally
administered and intravenous anti-cancer medications. This is critical for many patients who have
been diagnosed with cancer. Honestly, when I first heard about this
legislation, I was shocked that oral chemo isn’t covered by some health
plans. Therefore, I vowed to do
everything possible to enable all cancer warriors to have access to the best
possible treatment for them.
Cancer will
strike nearly one in two Californian’s born today at some point in their
lifetime. In order to prolong and save
lives, biotechnology companies continuously research and invent the best
possible treatment for the various forms of cancer. More than 40 oral anti-cancer medications are
currently available to treat 54 different types of cancer and there are
approximately 100 oral anti-cancer medications under development.
It is through
this research that discoveries are made that will ultimately lessen healthcare
costs to the state. Unfortunately,
because some service plans do not provide coverage parity for oral chemo, the
high out-of-pocket costs of the oral chemo prevent about 25 percent of cancer
patients from filling their prescriptions.
If cancer patients do not comply with their chemo protocol, their lives
are placed further at risk. Providing
access to the drugs that biotech companies create not only encourages greater
discoveries but also can be the difference between life and death for a cancer
patient.
As you know, I
have taken many different forms of chemotherapy, but the one that has enabled
me to have the highest quality of life resulting in me being able to spend
quality time with my children and remaining an active participant in the
workforce, has been my oral chemotherapy drug, Xeloda. While the equivalent IV drug would have
forced me to travel to Stanford Cancer Center 8 times/month for infusions, in
addition to my many other cancer-related doctor appointments, I am now able to
spend that time with my family and at my office, living a more normal
life. I cannot overstate the importance
of this to my life.
People have asked
me if this bill impacts me. At this
point, I have not been faced with an insurance company who has been unwilling
to cover my oral chemo. I am fortunate. Anthem
Blue Cross covers my oral chemotherapy enabling me to lead as full a life as
possible. Unfortunately, so many others
do not have that option. It is so
important that each cancer patient have access to the drugs that will most
effectively treat his/her type of cancer and enables the cancer patient to have
the best quality of life.
I am glad that we have been
able to get this critical legislation passed through the Assembly and
Senate. However, it now is sitting on
the Governor’s desk waiting for his signature (or veto). I, on behalf of TechNet, and our friends at
American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, Multiple Myeloma Assn, California
Medical Association, BayBio, Biocom, California Healthcare Institute and many
others are doing everything possible to convince the Gov. to sign this
important legislation. Unfortunately and
very disappointingly, Kaiser and Blue Shield are fighting this hard and have
hired a bunch of high priced lobbyists to influence the Gov. to veto the
bill.
Next week I’ll be speaking
at a press conference on this legislation.
I’m hoping that we’ll be able to stand up and laud the Governor for his
signature. However, I’m very very
nervous that this won’t be the case.
I am therefore asking
everyone that reads this blog to call, write or tweet the Gov’s office and urge
him to sign AB 1000. This is how you do
it:
Call: 916-445-2841
Write:
Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tweet: Here are some
examples of what you can tweet:
@jerrybrowngov Pls sign #AB1000 so cancer
patients can get oral chemo pills for the same cost as IV chemo. #beatcancer
#CaLeg
The FDA has approved 42 oral chemo meds for 57
different cancers. @JerryBrownGov please sign #AB1000 so insurance covers these
meds. #CaLeg
@jerrybrowngov Cancer patients in 20 states
& DC have access to oral chemo pills thanks 2 laws like #AB1000. Pls help
us #beatcancer. #CaLeg
If you would like a fact sheet or any other information about
this bill, just let me know. Thank you
for helping so many cancer patients who are struggling with this disease.
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