New Hampshire Cancer Treatment Fairness Coalition Announced

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:                               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Amber Hillman

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Phone: 508-450-8690

[email protected]

NEW HAMPSHIRE CANCER TREATMENT FAIRNESS COALITION ANNOUNCED

Organizations across New Hampshire and Region Join Together to Advocate

For Senate Bill 137 on Behalf of Cancer Patients

MARCH 9, 2015 – CONCORD – Today, a broad range of New Hampshire, regional and national patient advocacy, non-profits and trade organizations have joined together in announcing the formation of the New Hampshire Cancer Treatment Fairness Coalition, with the goal of supporting legislation which will ensure affordable access to potentially lifesaving cancer treatments for Granite Staters.

The coalition, led by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in New Hampshire, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, the New Hampshire Medical Society, the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition and over a dozen other organizations is advocating for the passage of Senate Bill 137, An Act Relative to Cost-Sharing Parity for Oral Anti-Cancer Therapies.  The prime sponsor of this bipartisan legislation is Senator Jeb Bradley, joined by co-sponsors Senators Regina Birdsell, Andrew Hosmer, John Reagan and Jeff Woodburn.  The bill will be heard by the Senate Commerce Committee tomorrow. 

The legislation remedies an antiquated benefit design involving oral and intravenous (IV) anticancer treatments, which has resulted in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for many patients needing an oral anticancer treatment. SB 137 would address this problem by prohibiting health insurers from charging a higher cost-share for an oral anticancer medication than for one administered by IV.

“It is crucial that lawmakers support SB 137. This legislation is a beacon of hope for cancer patients across New Hampshire who struggle to afford the medication they need to survive,” said Mike Rollo, director of government relations for ACS CAN in New Hampshire. “We are grateful to Senator Bradley and his fellow sponsors for their leadership on this important bill, and hope the Senate Commerce Committee and legislature will vote in favor of this potentially lifesaving measure.”

Studies have found that high OOP costs directly impact patient compliance with oral anticancer medications, ultimately resulting in higher long-term health care costs.   Patients with an OOP cost greater than $200 were at least three times more likely to not fill their prescription than those with OOP costs of $100 or less.[i]  

To date, 35 states plus the District of Columbia have enacted similar legislation to control OOP costs for cancer patients, including all New England states, with the exception of New Hampshire. An estimated 8,090 Granite Staters will be diagnosed with cancer this year and over 2,730 will lose their battle with the disease.

About the New Hampshire Cancer Treatment Fairness Coalition:  A broad range of New Hampshire, regional and national patient advocacy, non-profits and trade organizations have joined together to support SB 137 and bring oral chemotherapy parity to New Hampshire.   Coalition members include:

• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center  
• International Myeloma Foundation  
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• National Brain Tumor Society
• National Patient Advocate Foundation
• New England BIO  
• New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition  
• New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration
• New Hampshire Hematology Oncology
• New Hampshire Medical Society
• New Hampshire Nurse Practitioners Association
• New Hampshire Prostate Cancer Coalition  
• Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society  
• Prostate Health Education Network

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