Urge Your Legislators to Support the Cancer Drug Parity Act During BCAM

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Dear [Decision Maker],

I am your constituent and one of the hundreds of one million of Americans who have been personally affected by lymphoma, the most common form of blood cancer. As an Advocate for the Lymphoma Research Foundation, I am writing to you in honor of Blood Cancer Awareness Month to ask that you support the Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2019 (H.R.1730/S.741).

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The Cancer Drug Parity Act would ensure that patient cost sharing for oral and other self-administered cancer drugs is no less favorable than cost sharing for traditional intravenous (IV) cancer medication. The bipartisan legislation would require federally regulated private health insurance plans offering coverage for traditional IV treatments to provide parity for oral and self-administered cancer drugs.

As developments in cancer care advance rapidly, it is essential that patients can access the best treatment available. For some patients, there are no viable alternatives to oral chemotherapy drugs, which often come with much higher out-of-pocket costs than traditional IV treatments. Under current law, traditional IV treatments are covered under the medical benefit component of a health insurance plan, for which patients pay a moderate copay. However, oral and self-administered treatments are often covered under the pharmacy benefit component, meaning that patients pay a high coinsurance percentage resulting in a considerable cost disparity.

Currently, 43 states have legislation ensuring oral parity. However, these state regulations only protect state-regulated insurance. The Cancer Drug Parity Act (H.R.1730/S.741) provides protections to the 60% percent of privately-insured patients with federally regulated health insurance plans. This legislation will ensure patients across the country have equal access to the treatments recommended by their physicians and will bring insurance rules up to pace with innovative treatments.

Patients, families and their medical providers must be able to make treatment decisions based on what is best for the patient, not the cost of a particular therapy. As an advocate with the Lymphoma Research Foundation and your constituent, I want to convey that this bill is very important to me. Please cosponsor the Cancer Drug Parity Act today.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]