Advanced, metastatic cancer; delete repealer on prohibition against health plans requiring step therapy before covering certain drugs to treat.

Cancer patients get faster drug access

Beginning June 30, 2026, plans that cover advanced, metastatic cancer and related conditions cannot make patients try and fail another drug before covering a qualifying treatment. The drug must be FDA-approved, fit recognized best practices, and have support from peer-reviewed, evidence-based research. Insurers must provide a clear process for clinicians to request an override and promptly grant it when the preferred treatment failed, is likely to be ineffective, or could cause harm. When a practitioner deems treatment clinically ineffective, step therapy is limited to 30 days, with up to 7 extra days when sound clinical evidence shows the prescribed drug needs longer to provide relief.