ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUG COVERAGE S.B. 738:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 738 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Jeff Irwin
Committee: Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Insurance Code to require a health insurer to provide coverage for
genetic therapy and immunotherapy used in antineoplastic therapy.
Currently, the code requires insurers that deliver, issue for delivery, or renew a health
insurance policy in the State, to provide coverage in each policy for a drug, used in
antineoplastic therapy and the reasonable cost of its administration. The bill would require
insurers to include genetic therapy and immunotherapy as well as a drug. "Genetic therapy
and immunotherapy" would include CAR-T cell therapy.
BRIEF RATIONALE
Public Act (PA) 276 of 2016 requires an insurer to provide coverage for a drug used in cancer
therapy and the reasonable cost of its administration. According to testimony, some cancer
patients' treatments are delayed or they are told that gene therapy is not covered under PA
276. Bulletin 2024-01-INS, issued by the Department of Insurance and Financial Services
(DIFS), reminds issuers that DIFS will disapprove any health insurance policy that limits or
restricts coverage for cancer therapies like CAR T-cell therapy; the therapy is a process in
which a person's T-cells (specific types of white blood cells) are genetically modified in a
laboratory to be better at finding and destroying cancerous cells when returned to the person's
body.1 It has been suggested that the DIFS bulletin be codified in State law.
MCL 500.3406e
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State or local government.
Date Completed: 12-11-24 Fiscal Analyst: Nathan Leaman
1
"Immunotherapy", American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-
cancer/treatmenttypes/immunotherapy.html. Retrieved 9-24-24.
floor\sb738 Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not
constitute an official statement of legislative intent.


Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 500.3406