This past Saturday, Governor Rick Perry of Texasξsigned into law House Bill 438 that requires oral chemo to be covered in the same way that intravenous chemo is covered. Cancer patients recently testified before the Texas Legislature that they had good health insurance, but because oral chemotherapy was the only treatment for them and they could not afford the out-of-pocket cost, they were not receiving treatment at all. In addition to the financial burden and concern about the most effective treatment, some cancer patients were traveling hours to treatment centers to receive IV therapy when an oral chemo more targeted to their cancer can be taken in the comfort of their own home.ξThe law will beξeffective on September 1, 2011.ξ Congratulations, Texas!
After months of delay and hard negotiations, Congress has finally passed a funding bill! The bill includes a small increase for cancer research and prevention programs.