The health policy issue discussed in this brief is the bill related to oncology passed by the Florida House of Representatives. The bill number is CS/HB 301, and it relates to cancer treatment. Thus, the bill title of CS/HB 301 Cancer Treatment. The bill was sponsored by the Health Innovations Sub-Commmitee, and it had Mayfield and Nunez as co-sponsors. The members of a parliamentary committee are drawn from different parties. This means that their political affiliations are varied.

This bill has been determined to create a benefit mandate. The bill requires that a Health Maintenance organization, insurance company, individual or any other organization that provides a contract to cover for cancer drugs also cover for oral medications related to cancer treatment. Additionally, the bill applies restrictions for such health insurance providers from applying cost-sharing arrangements for oral medications related to the treatment of cancer. Further,the bill prevents any grandfathered health arrangements for the oral medications in the treatment of cancer. The effective date of the bill is January the first, 2015.

This bill has financial impacts. Although it is determined to have no effects on revenue, it has an indeterminate fiscal impact on expenditures. For example, the bill may lead to increase in insurance premiums, leading to an increase in expenditures by local governments, translating into a negative fiscal impact. Economically, and on the private sector, the HMOs and other health insurers may result to raising premiums in order to address the coverage of oral medications for cancer treatment as provided for by the bill. The consumers, however, are very likely to realize less and less out-of-pocket expenses for the oral cancer medications.