Bill Text: NJ S3557 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requires physician to offer to test patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to chemotherapy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-07 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S3557 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S3557-Introduced.html

SENATE, No. 3557

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 7, 2019

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  FRED H. MADDEN, JR.

District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)

Senator  RICHARD J. CODEY

District 27 (Essex and Morris)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires physician to offer to test patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to chemotherapy.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning chemotherapy and supplementing various parts of the statutory law. 

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a. A physician shall offer to test a patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to the patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment with drugs containing fluoropyrimidines. 

     b.    As used in this act, "dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency" means a disorder in which the human body experiences difficultly or is unable to breakdown chemotherapy drugs leading to a harmful reaction.

 

     2.    An individual health insurance policy that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 26 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year and any prescription drug treatment of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if the policy provides prescription drug benefits.

     The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the policy.

     This section shall apply to those policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.

 

     3.    A group health insurance policy that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to chapter 27 of Title 17B of the New Jersey Statutes, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year and any prescription drug treatment of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if the policy provides prescription drug benefits.

     The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the policy.

     This section shall apply to those policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.

 

     4.    An individual health benefits plan that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year and any prescription drug treatment of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if the health benefits plan provides prescription drug benefits.

     The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the health benefits plan.

     This section shall apply to those health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.

 

     5.    A small employer health benefits plan that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year and any prescription drug treatment of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if the health benefits plan provides prescription drug benefits.

     The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the health benefits plan.

     This section shall apply to those health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.

 

     6.    A health maintenance organization contract that is delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1973, c.337 (C.26:2J-1 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State by the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide coverage for expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year and any prescription drug treatment of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency, if the health maintenance organization contract provides health care services for prescription drugs.

     The health care services shall be provided to the same extent as for any other condition under the contract.

     This section shall apply to those contracts for health care services under which the right to change the schedule of charges for enrollee coverage is reserved.

 

     7.    Pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the State Board of Medical Examiners, shall pass rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of section 1 of this act, and the Department of Banking and Insurance shall pass rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of sections 2 through 76of this act. 

 

     8.    This act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires a physician to offer to test a patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to the patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment with drugs containing fluoropyrimidines.  Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency is a disorder in which the human body experiences difficultly or is unable to breakdown chemotherapy drugs leading to a harmful reaction.

     Under the bill, health insurance plans in this State are to cover expenses incurred in conducting one test for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency every year.

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