NATIONAL POLICY RESOURCES - LOCAL ADVOCACY RESULTS

Advocacy

As cancer care professionals who experience the challenges of providing quality cancer care first-hand, AACP members are well positioned to educate decision-makers on how coverage and reimbursement issues affect community oncology. State and federal legislation can have a significant impact on the financial viability of local cancer programs, which is why it's so important that our members make their voices heard.

We want to hear from you! If there is a specific piece of legislation you want to know more about, an important resource we're missing, or if you want to get more involved, please contact us!

STATE ADVOCACY

WIN! PASSED – HB 1626 – Rep. Bronoske (D). Medicaid coverage for colorectal screening exams. Directs the Health Care Authority to require coverage under medical assistance programs for noninvasive preventive colorectal cancer screening tests that have a grade of either A or B from the United States Preventive Services Task Force and to require coverage for colonoscopies performed as a result of a positive test result.

WIN! PASSED – SB 5396 – Sen. L. Wilson (R). Cost-sharing for patients for supplemental breast screening exams. Beginning January 1, 2024, for health plans that include coverage of supplemental breast examinations and diagnostic breast examinations, health carriers may not impose cost sharing for such examinations. “Diagnostic breast examination” means a medically necessary and appropriate examination, including an examination using diagnostic mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, breast magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound, that is used to evaluate an abnormality seen or suspected from a screening examination for breast cancer, or detected by another means of examination. “Supplemental breast examination” means a medically necessary and appropriate examination, including an examination using breast magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound, that is used to screen for breast cancer based an individual’s personal or family medical history, or additional factors that may increase the individual’s risk of breast cancer.

WIN! HB 1269 – Rep. Riccell (D).We preserved the 2022 passed version of the bill protected clinics in their ability to purchase in-office medications. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (Board) within the Health Care Authority (HCA) established in 2022 that is directed to review prescription drug affordability data, perform affordability reviews, and establish prescription drug upper payment limits.

OTHER BILLS TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

DIED – HB 1450/SB 5074 – Rep. Stonier (D)/Sen. L. Wilson (R). Would have required a health insurance coverage for biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of stage 1, 2, 3, or 4 cancer and brain cancer.

DIED – HB 1261 – Rep. Walen (D). Would have prohibited health carriers from imposing cost sharing on diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. We were pleased to support and see this bill almost make it to the floor for a vote.

DIED – HB 1450/SB 5074 – Rep. Stonier (D)/Sen. L. Wilson (R). This bill in its original version would have required a health insurance coverage for biomarker testing for all biomarker testing. Later versions would have required coverage for biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of stage 1, 2, 3, or 4 cancer and brain cancer. This bill advanced past where it had in earlier years.