VBCF-Supported Legislation to Help Patients Manage Prescription Drug Costs Moves Forward

Happy Friday! Sharing some good news for your weekend regarding (HB625/SB161), legislation that would give Virginians the opportunity to choose a health insurance plan with low, predictable co-pays for live-saving drugs.

• Yesterday, HB625, (Del. Henson), was passed out of the full House Labor and Commerce Committee. Next, it will go to the House floor next week for vote by the entire House of Delegates.

• And just today, the Senate companion bill, SB161 (Sen. Perry), passed on the Senate Floor with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 34-6! This bill will now "crossover" to the House chamber for consideration.

TAKE ACTION



Up Next: HB625 will be voted on by the entire House of Delegates sometime next week - likely by Wednesday (2/11/26). Contact your State Delegate and encourage them to vote YES on this important bill. If you do not know who your legislators are go to: Who's My Legislator?

Sample Email Text:

Subject: Put patients first! Support HB 625

Dear Delegate [X]

I am your constituent and a breast cancer [patient/survivor/thriver]. I am writing to urge you to support HB 625 (Del. Henson), which would give Virginians the option to choose a health insurance plan with transparent and predictable out-of-pocket costs for life-saving prescription drugs.

As a breast cancer [patient/survivor,/thriver], I know how devastating it can be when critical treatment options are not affordable. Many high-cost, specialty medications include newer and targeted breast cancer therapies, like those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. But, under many health insurance plans, prescription drugs for serious illnesses like cancer come with unpredictable and unaffordable out-of-pocket costs.

Patients like me deserve the option to choose a health care plan with a flat-dollar co-pay for prescriptions so that we can better manage both our health and our finances. I respectfully ask that you put patients first by voting in favor of HB 625.

Sincerely,

[NAME, CITY]

Background on this Legislation

HB625/SB161 Transparency to help patients manage out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.

Patrons: Delegate Henson (HD-19) and Senator Perry (SD-31)

Patients who require specialty tier medications for complex or chronic conditions are often required to pay a co-insurance that could be thousands of dollars for a single month’s supply of medication. High-cost specialty medications include many newer, targeted breast cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. HB625/SB161 (identical bills) would require that health insurance carriers give patients an option to select a capped, flat-dollar co-pay-only health insurance plan, helping make costs stable and predictable. This plan choice would ensure that co-pays for any covered medication within that plan would not exceed $100 per prescription per month in Silver/Gold/Platinum plans or $150 per prescription per month in Bronze plans. 

🎉ICYMI: Good News from Congress for Breast Cancer Research and Early Detection

On Tuesday, Congress passed a final Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget ending the partial government shutdown. In a great win for cancer research, Congress rejected the Trump Administration's drastic proposals that would have cut biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health by 40% and eliminated the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. In fact, the FY26 budget approved by Congress this week increases funding for these programs!

Congress also passed the Defense Appropriations Bill, which includes $145M funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) Breast Cancer Research Program. VBCF advocates each year on Capitol Hill for this important funding. From FY92-25, Virginia cancer research institutions such as UVA, VCU, Hampton University, and VA Tech have received over $53.4 million in funding.

Questions? Contact Kirsta Millar

kirsta@vbcf.org or 804-285-1200 ext. 203.