(Sacramento) – Legislation from Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno), Assembly Bill 1000 – the Access to Cancer Treatment Act, has been approved by the Assembly Health Committee. Assemblymember Perea says he introduced AB 1000 to insure cancer patients have access to the most appropriate and effective cancer treatments. "Patients who go in for IV chemotherapy pay a co-payment for each visit, but don't have to pay a separate fee for the IV drug," Assemblymember Perea said. "On the other hand, many who need anticancer medication in pill form pay as much as $8,000 a month out-of-pocket." The Access to Cancer Treatment Act would increase access to oral chemotherapeutic agents by requiring health insurance plans coverage of oral and IV cancer treatments. Here's more in this Assembly Web Report.
