Presidential Candidate Responses

Achieving Oral Chemotherapy Parity 

Today tens of thousands of cancer patients rely on an oral therapy. In fact, for many patients living with cancer, oral drugs are the only available treatment. Yet in many cases, orally-administered cancer treatments are priced significantly higher than therapy administered by IV, port, or injection. This is particularly true for patients on Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans. The bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act (H.R. 1730/S.741), would ensure that all cancer treatments are covered at the same cost-sharing for patients, no matter how they are administered.

Will you ensure that all cancer treatments are covered at the same cost-sharing for patients, regardless of site or method of administration?

Joe Biden: Yes, I will work with Congress to pass the Cancer Drug Parity Act. We must do all we can so that patients receive the right therapy at the right time. Profit should never reign over people. I will ensure that there are no perverse incentives, including higher cost sharing, that drive the use of intravenous cancer therapies over oral cancer drugs in a way that doesn’t match the science. 

View Other Policy Priorities

The responses published above were received on or before February 28, 2020.