June 01, 2016
On April 27, 2016, Gov. Deal signed HB 965 into law, amending Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. This makes a change to plan requirements regarding drug treatment for those suffering from stage four advanced, metastatic cancer.
The amendment provides that health benefit plans issued, delivered or renewed in Georgia cannot limit or exclude coverage for drugs that are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to treat stage four advanced, metastatic cancer by requiring that plan participants first fail to respond successfully to a different drug or drugs or prove a history of failure of such drug or drugs. “Stage four advanced, metastatic cancer” means cancer that has spread from the cancer's original or primary sites to nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other areas or parts of the body.
This law applies to fully-insured plans issued, delivered or renewed on or after July 1, 2016.
HB 965 »