House Bill No. 766 aims to enhance health insurance coverage for orally administered anti-cancer medications by establishing parity with intravenously administered or injected anti-cancer treatments. The bill amends R.S. 22:999.1 to ensure that health insurance plans providing cancer treatment must cover prescribed oral medications on terms no less favorable than those for intravenous options. It prohibits various cost-sharing practices, including prior authorization, dollar limits, and copayments, that would result in higher out-of-pocket expenses for patients. Additionally, it mandates that cost-sharing for oral medications count towards the enrollee's deductible and annual out-of-pocket maximum, and it restricts health insurance issuers from reclassifying or increasing cost-sharing for these medications to comply with the new requirements.

The bill also clarifies its applicability, stating that it applies to individual and group health coverage plans, high-deductible health plans, and qualified health plans offered through health benefit exchanges, while excluding limited benefit health insurance policies and self-funded employee benefit plans governed by ERISA, except as permitted by federal law. The proposed law includes definitions for key terms such as "anti-cancer medications," "health coverage plan," and "copayment adjustment program," ensuring a comprehensive framework for the implementation of these provisions.

Statutes affected:
HB766 Original:
HB766 Engrossed:
HB766 Reengrossed:
HB766 Re-Reengrossed: