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| Sen. Scott Fitzgerald - R-Clyman, WI |
Not One Word of Protest from Wisconsin Republicans - or Mary Burke Yet ...
Think Wisconsin Republicans are not run by special interests?Taking their orders from the Health Insurance industry, Wisconsin Republicans are killing a bill that mandates treating cancer victims with an affordable chemotherapy drug, until and if public outrage forces the Republicans' hand.
Cancer treatment. This is what Wisconsin Republicans are killing, even though the legislation has the support of the majority of the legislature.
A "broad array of cancer support and health advocacy groups" and cancer patients and their families have been pushing for this legislation (SB 300) for years.
One day after screwing over veterans suffering from Mesothelioma cancer in a nakedly corrupt vote yesterday, Republicans and Senate Majority leader Scott Fitzgerald "employed an unusual gambit Wednesday to keep his house from passing — at least for now — a bill to help cancer patients afford chemotherapy drugs." (Stein and Boulton. MJS)
No Republican legislator has issued one word of condemnation for this despicable act on Fitzgerald's part.
Scott Walker has said nothing, like: 'you unbelievable piece of human garbage, do you know anyone who has died from Leukemia?'
Not one word from Sen. Michael Ellis (R-Neenah) added as a co-author on February 6, not one word from Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) who used to be the leading sponsor.
These politicians have great health insurance for cancer treatment [paid for by Wisconsin citizens] so it's not like Wisconsin citizens need the same, right?
Fitzgerald pulled this legislation even though the bill (SB 300) has the support of the majority of the Senate.
Greg Neumann reports:
MADISON (WKOW) -- Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says he used a procedural move to purposely block a vote on a bill that would require insurance companies to cover oral chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients, because he believed it would pass without the full support of his GOP caucus."The legislation is backed by a coalition of advocacy groups, such as the American Cancer Society and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, as well as Columbia St. Mary's Health System, Marshfield Clinic and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The proposal is opposed by health insurers who contend it will drive up the cost of health insurance," report Stein and Boulton.
The (Senate) Report passage was recommended by the Senate Committee on Insurance and Housing in January, with Five Ayes, and ZERO Noes.
The Wisconsin Coalition for Cancer Treatment Access actually lauded the Senate Committee in January.
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Here is the text of SB 300:
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
September 13, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Darling, L. Taylor, Harsdorf,
Moulton, Olsen, Petrowski, Schultz, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Hansen,
Lassa, Miller, Risser, Vinehout and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives
Strachota, Barca, Jacque, Tittl, Thiesfeldt, Loudenbeck, Stone, Kerkman,
Schraa, Brooks, T. Larson, Pridemore, Tranel, A. Ott, Ripp, Ballweg,
Bernier, Bies, Kaufert, Knodl, Zamarripa, Hulsey, Ohnstad, Johnson,
Berceau, Kolste, Mason, Sinicki, Vruwink, Bewley, Pasch, Richards, Goyke,
Riemer, Hesselbein, Smith, Danou, Hebl, Young, Zepnick and Kahl.
Referred to Committee on Insurance and Housing.
Moulton, Olsen, Petrowski, Schultz, Carpenter, Erpenbach, Hansen,
Lassa, Miller, Risser, Vinehout and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives
Strachota, Barca, Jacque, Tittl, Thiesfeldt, Loudenbeck, Stone, Kerkman,
Schraa, Brooks, T. Larson, Pridemore, Tranel, A. Ott, Ripp, Ballweg,
Bernier, Bies, Kaufert, Knodl, Zamarripa, Hulsey, Ohnstad, Johnson,
Berceau, Kolste, Mason, Sinicki, Vruwink, Bewley, Pasch, Richards, Goyke,
Riemer, Hesselbein, Smith, Danou, Hebl, Young, Zepnick and Kahl.
Referred to Committee on Insurance and Housing.
1An Act to amend 40.51 (8), 40.51 (8m), 66.0137 (4), 120.13 (2) (g) and 185.983
2(1) (intro.); and to create 609.837 and 632.867 of the statutes; relating to:
3copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance for oral chemotherapy and injected or
4intravenous chemotherapy.
2(1) (intro.); and to create 609.837 and 632.867 of the statutes; relating to:
3copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance for oral chemotherapy and injected or
4intravenous chemotherapy.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill prohibits health insurance policies, and self-insured governmental
and school district health plans, that cover injected or intravenous and oral
chemotherapy from requiring the insured to pay a higher copayment, deductible, or
coinsurance for oral chemotherapy than is required for injected or intravenous
chemotherapy, regardless of the formulation or benefit category determination by
the policy or plan. A health insurance policy or self-insured governmental or school
district health plan may not comply with that prohibition by increasing the
copayment, deductible, or coinsurance for intravenous or injected chemotherapy
that is covered under the policy or plan.
and school district health plans, that cover injected or intravenous and oral
chemotherapy from requiring the insured to pay a higher copayment, deductible, or
coinsurance for oral chemotherapy than is required for injected or intravenous
chemotherapy, regardless of the formulation or benefit category determination by
the policy or plan. A health insurance policy or self-insured governmental or school
district health plan may not comply with that prohibition by increasing the
copayment, deductible, or coinsurance for intravenous or injected chemotherapy
that is covered under the policy or plan.
The requirements of the bill apply to individual and group health insurance
policies, including limited service health organizations, preferred provider plans,
defined network plans, and cooperative associations' health care plans; to health
care plans, including a self-insured plan, offered by the state to its employees; and
to self-insured health plans of a city, town, village, county, or school district.
policies, including limited service health organizations, preferred provider plans,
defined network plans, and cooperative associations' health care plans; to health
care plans, including a self-insured plan, offered by the state to its employees; and
to self-insured health plans of a city, town, village, county, or school district.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
enact as follows:
1Section 1. 40.51 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:
2 40.51 (8) Every health care coverage plan offered by the state under sub. (6)
3shall comply with ss. 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.746 (1) to (8)
4and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855,
5632.867, 632.87 (3) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (17), and 632.896.
3shall comply with ss. 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.746 (1) to (8)
4and (10), 632.747, 632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855,
5632.867, 632.87 (3) to (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (5m) and (8) to (17), and 632.896.
6Section 2. 40.51 (8m) of the statutes is amended to read:
7 40.51 (8m) Every health care coverage plan offered by the group insurance
8board under sub. (7) shall comply with ss. 631.95, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747,
9632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.885,
10632.89, and 632.895 (11) to (17).
8board under sub. (7) shall comply with ss. 631.95, 632.746 (1) to (8) and (10), 632.747,
9632.748, 632.798, 632.83, 632.835, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.885,
10632.89, and 632.895 (11) to (17).
11Section 3. 66.0137 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
12 66.0137 (4) Self-insured health plans. If a city, including a 1st class city, or
13a village provides health care benefits under its home rule power, or if a town
14provides health care benefits, to its officers and employees on a self-insured basis,
15the self-insured plan shall comply with ss. 49.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2),
16632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3), 632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867,
17632.87 (4), (5), and (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513 (4).
13a village provides health care benefits under its home rule power, or if a town
14provides health care benefits, to its officers and employees on a self-insured basis,
15the self-insured plan shall comply with ss. 49.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2),
16632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3), 632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867,
17632.87 (4), (5), and (6), 632.885, 632.89, 632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513 (4).
18Section 4. 120.13 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
19 120.13 (2) (g) Every self-insured plan under par. (b) shall comply with ss.
2049.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3),
1632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.87 (4), (5), and (6), 632.885, 632.89,
2632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513 (4).
2049.493 (3) (d), 631.89, 631.90, 631.93 (2), 632.746 (10) (a) 2. and (b) 2., 632.747 (3),
1632.798, 632.85, 632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.87 (4), (5), and (6), 632.885, 632.89,
2632.895 (9) to (17), 632.896, and 767.513 (4).
3Section 5. 185.983 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
4 185.983 (1) (intro.) Every voluntary nonprofit health care plan operated by a
5cooperative association organized under s. 185.981 shall be exempt from chs. 600 to
6646, with the exception of ss. 601.04, 601.13, 601.31, 601.41, 601.42, 601.43, 601.44,
7601.45, 611.26, 611.67, 619.04, 623.11, 623.12, 628.34 (10), 631.17, 631.89, 631.93,
8631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.745 to 632.749, 632.775, 632.79, 632.795, 632.798, 632.85,
9632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.87 (2), (2m), (3), (4), (5), and (6), 632.885, 632.89,
10632.895 (5) and (8) to (17), 632.896, and 632.897 (10) and chs. 609, 620, 630, 635, 645,
11and 646, but the sponsoring association shall:
5cooperative association organized under s. 185.981 shall be exempt from chs. 600 to
6646, with the exception of ss. 601.04, 601.13, 601.31, 601.41, 601.42, 601.43, 601.44,
7601.45, 611.26, 611.67, 619.04, 623.11, 623.12, 628.34 (10), 631.17, 631.89, 631.93,
8631.95, 632.72 (2), 632.745 to 632.749, 632.775, 632.79, 632.795, 632.798, 632.85,
9632.853, 632.855, 632.867, 632.87 (2), (2m), (3), (4), (5), and (6), 632.885, 632.89,
10632.895 (5) and (8) to (17), 632.896, and 632.897 (10) and chs. 609, 620, 630, 635, 645,
11and 646, but the sponsoring association shall:
12Section 6. 609.837 of the statutes is created to read:
13609.837 Copayment equality for oral and injected chemotherapy.
14Limited service health organizations, preferred provider plans, and defined network
15plans are subject to s. 632.867.
14Limited service health organizations, preferred provider plans, and defined network
15plans are subject to s. 632.867.
16Section 7. 632.867 of the statutes is created to read:
17632.867 Oral and injected chemotherapy. (1) Definitions. In this section:
18 (a) "Chemotherapy" means drugs and biologics that kill cancer cells directly,
19including antineoplastics, biologic response modifiers, hormone therapy, and
20monoclonal antibodies, and that are used to do any of the following:
19including antineoplastics, biologic response modifiers, hormone therapy, and
20monoclonal antibodies, and that are used to do any of the following:
21 1. Cure a specific cancer.
22 2. Control tumor growth when cure is not possible.
23 3. Shrink tumors before surgery or radiation therapy.
24 4. Destroy microscopic cancer cells that may be present after a tumor is
25removed by surgery to prevent a cancer recurrence.
25removed by surgery to prevent a cancer recurrence.
1(b) "Disability insurance policy" has the meaning given in s. 632.895 (1) (a).
2 (c) "Self-insured health plan" has the meaning given in s. 632.85 (1) (c).
3(2) Copayment, deductible, or coinsurance requirements; limitations. (a) A
4disability insurance policy that covers injected or intravenous chemotherapy and
5oral chemotherapy, or a self-insured health plan that covers injected or intravenous
6chemotherapy and oral chemotherapy, may not require a higher copayment,
7deductible, or coinsurance amount for oral chemotherapy than it requires for
8injected or intravenous chemotherapy, regardless of the formulation or benefit
9category determination by the policy or plan.
4disability insurance policy that covers injected or intravenous chemotherapy and
5oral chemotherapy, or a self-insured health plan that covers injected or intravenous
6chemotherapy and oral chemotherapy, may not require a higher copayment,
7deductible, or coinsurance amount for oral chemotherapy than it requires for
8injected or intravenous chemotherapy, regardless of the formulation or benefit
9category determination by the policy or plan.
10 (b) A disability insurance policy or a self-insured health plan may not comply
11with par. (a) by increasing the copayment, deductible, or coinsurance amount
12required for injected or intravenous chemotherapy that is covered under the policy
13or plan.
11with par. (a) by increasing the copayment, deductible, or coinsurance amount
12required for injected or intravenous chemotherapy that is covered under the policy
13or plan.
14Section 8. Initial applicability.
15 (1) This act first applies to all of the following:
16 (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), disability insurance policies
17that are issued or renewed, and governmental or school district self-insured health
18plans that are established, extended, modified, or renewed, on the effective date of
19this paragraph.
17that are issued or renewed, and governmental or school district self-insured health
18plans that are established, extended, modified, or renewed, on the effective date of
19this paragraph.
20 (b) Disability insurance policies covering employees who are affected by a
21collective bargaining agreement containing provisions inconsistent with this act
22that are issued or renewed on the earlier of the following:
21collective bargaining agreement containing provisions inconsistent with this act
22that are issued or renewed on the earlier of the following:
231. The day on which the collective bargaining agreement expires.
242. The day on which the collective bargaining agreement is extended, modified,
25or renewed.
25or renewed.
1(c) Governmental or school district self-insured health plans covering
2employees who are affected by a collective bargaining agreement containing
3provisions inconsistent with this act that are established, extended, modified, or
4renewed on the earlier of the following:
51. The day on which the collective bargaining agreement expires.
62. The day on which the collective bargaining agreement is extended, modified,
7or renewed.
7or renewed.
8Section 9. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication,
9except as follows:
9except as follows:
10 (1) The treatment of section 632.867 (2) (a) of the statutes takes effect on the
11first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.
11first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.
12 (End)
It is beyond belief that this legislator would put political donors and corporate special interests above the needs of those suffering from the afflictions of cancer. It is also beyond belief that this was Fitzgerald's decision alone. If the majority of the legislature is behind this bill [both parties] and Republicans are sponsors of the bill.... the order to scuttle it came from above Fitzgerald. Since there has been no outcry from Republicans about Fitzgerald's actions they have all been told to fall in line and remain mute ! There is only one individual with that kind of power within Wisconsin's government or with more special interest money at his disposal and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see behind which door that individual sits. Come on ....MEDIA....exercise your journalistic credentials and expose this political malfeasance for the secret behind closed door maneuver that it is. Let's call out the real people who are behind this outrageous attempt to deny care and treatment to cancer patients
ReplyDeleteAlso of note -- Jeff "Lil Fitz" Fitzgerald, brother of Scott, is lobbying for the insurance companies opposing this.
ReplyDelete