Lawmakers consider bill that would make chemo pills more affordable

MADISON (WITI) -- Should the state mandate how insurers cover cancer? Cancer patients say chemo pills are much more expensive than the traditional IV treatments, and they want the Legislature to step in.

"The financial effects of having to pay for the oral chemo that I was treated with has devastated me," Jennifer Grandkoski said.

Grandkoski of Menomonee Falls is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with leukemia 13 years ago. Her doctors put her on chemo pills -- a more expensive and sometimes more effective alternative to traditional IV chemo.

"I can remember my mom being at the pharmacy just begging to run it through differently so we didn't have to pay it that way," Grandkoski said.

The problem was, like more insurance companies do, Grandkoski's viewed the pills as a pharmaceutical benefit -- not a medical procedure, so she had to pay more than $50,000 out of pocket for her cancer treatments.

"This is called the Cancer Treatment Fairness Act," State Sen. Alberta Darling (R - River Hills) said.

Sen. Darling says whether it's in a pill or an IV, it's still chemo, and she wants to force companies to make sure the costs for chemo pills are in line with the traditional IV costs.

"What we're trying to say is the treatment -- whether it's intravenous or oral, the choice should be made between the doctor and the patient," Sen. Darling said.

An overflow crowd packed a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, October 9th -- and many of those in attendance were cancer patients or survivors, but those representing the insurance industry were also on hand.

"You're basically saying  you're going to take a pharmaceutical and make it a medical and that's the rub,"

Insurers are against the bill, saying to single out one type of drug for special treatment could create a slippery slope.

"To pull one drug out of the mix and decide to treat it as a medical benefit, is a problem and it's the beginning of -- you know -- any expensive drug should be dealt with that way,"

Grandkoski is urging lawmakers to pass the bill -- saying dealing with cancer is hard enough. Getting treatment for it shouldn't also lead to financial ruin.

"I'm hoping that they pass this bill.  It will make such a difference in the lives of so many people. It's just something that needs to be done," Grandkoski said.

If Wisconsin were to pass the Cancer Treatment Fairness Act, it would be the 27th state to do so.