Two Great Outcomes Yesterday & More Action Needed Today!

Yesterday was a good day for two of VBCF's legislative priorities that were heard in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee:

• SB2, to establish a paid family and medical leave program in Virginia, was passed out of Committee and now moves to the Senate Finance Committee. Thank you to all the advocates who quickly contacted your Senators!

• SB161, which would give Virginians the opportunity to choose a health insurance plan with low, predictable co-pays for live-saving drugs passed out of Committee with a strong bipartisan vote, 9-2. This bill now moves to the Senate floor for a vote!

ACTION NEEDED TODAY BY NOON

HB625, the House companion bill to SB161 will be heard in the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1 this afternoon. If your Delegate is on this subcommittee, please contact them today by NOON to ask for their support. See details below.


THANK YOU!

Pictured: SB161 bill Patron Senator Russet Perry (SB-31, Loudon/Fauquier) with Kirsta Millar from VBCF and representatives from Blood Cancer United and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS/CAN)

TAKE ACTION: Time Sensitive



HB625 will be heard in the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1 TODAY! If your State Delegate is on this Subcommittee (see table below), please email them BEFORE NOON TODAY to ask for their support. 

If you do not know who your legislators are go to: Who's My Legislator?

Sample Email Text:

Dear Delegate x:

As a volunteer advocate with the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, and your constituent, I’m asking you to support HB 625 and give patients the option to choose a health insurance plan with transparent and predictable out-of-pocket costs for life-saving treatment. 

Under many health insurance plans, prescription drugs for complex and chronic illnesses require patients to pay co-insurance, which is a percentage of the total cost of their drug. Unpredictable and unaffordable out-of-pocket costs can force patients to skip doses of life-saving medications or stop taking their prescriptions altogether.  

As a member of the breast cancer community, I know that high-cost specialty medications include many newer, targeted breast cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. [INSERT YOUR EXPERIENCE IF APPLICABLE]

Having the option to choose a health insurance plan with flat-dollar copays will allow patients to manage both their health and their finances. I urge you to vote for HB 625.

Sincerely,

[NAME, CITY]

House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #1 Members:

Background

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. 

Questions? Contact Kirsta Millar

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