Bill: Study insurers' treatment of cancer patients

BOZEMAN — Gov. Brian Schweitzer has signed legislation seen as a step to increasing the number of cancer patients participating in clinical trials.

House Bill 615 calls for the state's insurance commissioner to study the medical costs insurance companies reimburse for cancer patients participating in trials and to recommend appropriate legislation.

Democratic Rep. Kathleen Williams of Bozeman sponsored the bill after hearing from constituents that they could not participate in clinical trials because insurance companies declined to pay for "routine care" that might be needed outside the trial.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports Schweitzer signed the bill Tuesday at Montana State University.

Oncologist Jack Hensold says the bill is a great step toward correcting issues that could be delaying the advancement of cancer treatments.