[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11110-11111]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    CANCER DRUG COVERAGE PARITY ACT

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, this year, more than 1.5 million Americans 
will be diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, innovative research has led 
to more effective and accessible treatments. However, insurance has not 
kept pace with the science, and cancer patients are paying the price.
  Chemotherapy, previously administered only through injection, is now 
available for many types of cancer in pill form. Today, oral 
chemotherapy represents 35 percent of all new cancer drugs. However, 
copayments for oral chemo can be hundreds or thousands of dollars per 
month. As a result, it prevents patients from filling their 
prescriptions.
  A cancer patient should never be forced to make a treatment decision 
based on finances. That is why I joined Congressman Leonard Lance to 
reintroduce the Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act, which would require 
health insurance plans that cover traditional chemotherapy to provide 
no less favorable coverage for prescribed orally administered drugs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan effort to ensure 
cancer patients can receive the treatments their doctors prescribe.

[[Page 11111]]



                          ____________________