SACRAMENTO – Legislation aimed at improving the lives of cancer patients in California was approved by the Assembly Thursday with bipartisan support.

Assembly Bill 1000, The Access to Cancer Treatment Act, was introduced by Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno), and would increase access to life saving chemotherapy by requiring health plans and insurers to provide oral medication for cancer treatment at the same affordable cost as intravenous treatments.

“Some insurance companies refuse to cover the cost of these treatments, forcing cancer patients to make co-payments of as much as $8,000 a month,” Assemblymember Perea said. “Cancer patients in California deserve affordable access to the medicine prescribed by their doctors and with this bill they will finally have that chance.”

With nearly 100 new oral anti-cancer medications currently under development, pill form cancer treatments account for more than 25 percent of the new cancer therapies, making this innovative form of chemotherapy the future of cancer treatment.

The Access to Cancer Treatment Act moves to the Senate Health Committee for further consideration.

AB 1000 is supported by the following agencies:

American Cancer Society
Association of Northern California Oncologists
California Healthcare Institute
California Medical Association
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
California Professional Firefighters
International Myeloma Foundation
Latinas Contra Cancer
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Assemblymember Henry T. Perea represents the 31st District in the California State Assembly which includes the central San Joaquin Valley communities of Cutler-Orosi, Dinuba, Firebaugh, Fowler, Kerman, Mendota, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma and the city of Fresno.

Contact: Alisha Gallon, 661-364-3655