House Committee on Insurance passes Pryor bill to obtain quicker access to lifesaving prescriptions for advanced cancer patients

Today, Jan. 20, the House Committee on Insurance passed House Bill 1114. The bill, authored by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), prohibits state employee health plans, the healthcare marketplace and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from requiring step therapy or "fail first." "Fail first" requires patients to try a drug preferred by their insurance company and fail to respond before they receive coverage for the prescription originally recommended by their doctor.

“I am very proud to have authored this bill to help ensure that cancer patients get the care that works best for them immediately,” Pryor said. “People battling advanced cancer do not have time to go through the trial-and-error process that the 'fail first' system requires. Patients deserve access to the care their doctor prescribed without dangerous delays from their insurance company. According to the CDC, Indiana is among the states with the highest cancer death rates. This bill will help combat that unfortunate reality by getting people the care they need quickly instead of the care that is cheapest for insurance companies.”

Pryor was joined in committee by advocates on behalf of Susan G. Komen and the Indiana Oncology Society who voiced strong support for the bill.

“As House Bill 1114 moves out of committee, I look forward to continuing to advocate for access to potentially lifesaving care for metastatic cancer patients,” Pryor said. “I’d like to thank my co-authors Rep. Martin Carbaugh, Rep. Lori Goss-Reaves and Rep. Robin Shackleford, as well as Susan G. Komen and the Indiana Oncology Society for their support. I urge my constituents and all Hoosiers to do their part in protecting cancer patients by voicing their support for HB 1114.”