This bill amends R.S. 22:999.1 to establish guidelines for health insurance coverage of orally administered anti-cancer medications, ensuring parity with intravenously administered or injected anti-cancer medications. It mandates that health insurance plans providing cancer treatment must cover prescribed oral anti-cancer medications on terms no less favorable than those for intravenous options. The bill prohibits health insurance issuers from imposing any prior authorization, dollar limits, copayments, deductibles, or other cost-sharing requirements that would result in higher out-of-pocket expenses for orally administered medications compared to their intravenous counterparts. Additionally, it specifies that cost-sharing for these medications must count towards the enrollee's deductible and annual out-of-pocket maximum.

The bill also introduces definitions for key terms such as "anti-cancer medications," "covered person," and "health coverage plan," while clarifying the applicability of these provisions to various health plans, including individual and group plans, high-deductible health plans, and qualified health plans offered through health benefit exchanges. However, it excludes limited benefit health insurance policies from these requirements and clarifies that it does not regulate self-funded employee benefit plans governed by ERISA, except as permitted under federal law. Overall, the legislation aims to improve access to life-saving oral anti-cancer treatments by reducing financial barriers for patients.

Statutes affected:
HB766 Original:
HB766 Engrossed:
HB766 Reengrossed:
HB766 Re-Reengrossed:
HB766 Enrolled:
HB766 Act 833: