MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Insurance

By: Representative Stevens

House Bill 1199

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT INSURANCE POLICIES COVERING DRUGS FROM EXCLUDING COVERAGE OF CERTAIN DRUGS OTHERWISE RECOGNIZED FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OF CANCER ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE DRUGS ARE NOT APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE SPECIFIC TYPE OF CANCER FOR WHICH THE DRUGS ARE PRESCRIBED; TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) No insurance policy which provides coverage for drugs shall exclude coverage of any drug used for the treatment of cancer on the grounds that the drug has not been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of the specific type of cancer for which the drug has been prescribed, provided that such drug is recognized for treatment of that specific type of cancer in one of the standard reference compendia or in the medical literature.

(2) This section may not be construed to:

(a) Alter existing law with regard to provisions limiting the coverage of drugs that have not been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration;

(b) Require coverage for any drug when the Federal Food and Drug Administration has determined its use to be contraindicated;

(c) Require coverage for experimental drugs not otherwise approved for any indication by the Federal Food and Drug Administration;

(d) Create, impair, alter, limit, modify, enlarge, abrogate, or prohibit reimbursement for drugs used in the treatment of any other disease or condition.

(3) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Insurance policy" means an individual, group, or blanket policy written by a medical expense indemnity corporation, a hospital service corporation, a health care service plan contract, or a private insurance plan issued, amended, delivered, or renewed in this state or which provides insurance for residents of this state and shall include all health insurance plans for the state and its political subdivisions.

(b) "Standard reference compendia" means:

(i) The United States Pharmacopoeia Drug Information; or

(ii) The American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information.

(c) "Medical literature" means two (2) articles from major peer-reviewed professional medical journals that have recognized, based on scientific or medical criteria, the safety and effectiveness of a drug for treatment of the indication for which it has been prescribed unless two (2) articles from major peer-reviewed professional medical journals have concluded, based on scientific or medical criteria, that the drug is unsafe or ineffective or that the drug safety and effectiveness cannot be determined for the treatment of the indication for which it has been prescribed. Peer-reviewed medical literature does not include publications or supplements that are sponsored to a significant extent by a pharmaceutical manufacturing company or health carrier.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.