Pryor bill allowing faster access to lifesaving cancer prescriptions heading to the Senate floor

Today, Feb. 19, House Bill 1114, authored by State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis), passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and now heads to the Senate floor.

HB 1114 prohibits state employee health plans, the health care marketplace and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from requiring step therapy or "fail first." “Fail first” means patients must try a drug their insurance company prefers and show it doesn’t work before their insurance will cover the medication their doctor originally prescribed.

Pryor released the following statement:

“The ‘fail first’ method is not common-sense care. Patients with metastatic or stage 4 cancer cannot afford to wait and see if inferior drugs are going to work for them. Insurance companies should not be allowed to prioritize profits over people, especially where life-threatening illnesses are concerned. HB 1114 restores control of treatment plans to the physicians who have devoted their lives to providing outstanding, personalized care for their patients.

“I’m incredibly proud to see HB 1114 get one step closer to being signed into law. It will restore control of treatment to the experts who know best and help combat Indiana’s unacceptably high cancer death rate.

“I want to extend my gratitude to my co-authors, along with Susan G. Komen, the Indiana Oncology Society and the Livestrong Foundation for their support. I look forward to continuing my fight to bring the highest possible quality health care for Hoosiers.”