Legislative Updates

As the end of the year fast approaches, ASCO continues to raise alarm about impending Medicare cuts. MSCO has joined in on a sign-on letter that urges Congressional leadership to include language to extend the 3.75% payment adjustment in any viable year-end piece of legislation. This is only one piece of the impending cuts which total 9.75%. 

Details on all of the impending cuts and the opportunity to reach out to your Members of Congress remain available on the ACT Network. 

On November 19, 2021, the Build Back Better Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 220-213. The legislation contains significant health care provisions, some may be found on ASCO in Action.

Representatives Donald McEachin (D-VA-04) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) recently introduced H.R. 5801, the HELP Copays Act, a bill supported by the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) that will ban copay accumulator programs by ensuring that all payments made by the patient count towards their deductible, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket maximum. This is an important step in protecting patients from potential added financial strains in obtaining expensive therapies. As many states have introduced or passed legislation to address copay accumulator programs, ASCO is pleased to see the introduction of federal legislation.

We encourage you to contact the State Representative to support the HELP Copays Act, H.R. 5801.

The step therapy bill is being sent to the House today with a favorable report from the Health Care Financing Committee. It may be referred to House Ways & Means Committee. Last session the bill passed the Senate. The fact that it is sent to the House first is a good sign that there is support there and progress, which is important. The Senate has always been supportive.

Update provided by Ed Brennan, Esq.

The Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists (MSCO) and the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) are pleased to support H. 1116/S. 640: An Act relative to preserving fertility. Committee passage of H. 1116/S. 640 would be a crucial step in helping to make Massachusetts the 11^th state to provide this important protection for patients with cancer.  Hearing scheduled for November 9th.  Read Full Letter

11 Nov 2021 (Update): The Financial Services committee hearing took place on November 9th and went well, with over 25 letters of written testimony and several members of the coalition testifying. The next step will be for the committee to take a vote on the bill in one of their executive sessions which will be in January or February. 

The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on September 21 for S. 644 / H. 1053, which will ban co-pay accumulator programs in state health plans. Prior to the hearing, The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) collaborated with its coalition partners and the Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists (MSCO) to submit letters supporting the bill. The bill now awaits further consideration by the Joint Committee as ASCO and its partners continue to monitor the legislation.

The Massachusetts State House remains closed and the legislature continues to meet in virtual sessions, as well as conduct public hearings on bills virtually. As we move into the fall, there is a hope the State House will reopen, but the Delta variant is putting a damper on expectations.

• Step Therapy/Fail First Legislation, H.1311 & S.756
• Co-Pay Accumulators, S.644 & H.1053
• Telehealth

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