Comments Document

Dear Chair Ward and Members of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, I’m writing in support of HB 2099 on behalf of ZERO Prostate Cancer, the leading national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer and help all those who are impacted, and on behalf of the patients and patient advocates we represent. Although prior authorization is considered a utilization management tool, 86% of physicians reported that prior authorizations led to waste rather than the cost savings claimed by insurers. 93% of oncologists surveyed reported that prior authorization delayed life-saving treatments for their patients, according to a 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology survey. A 2023 American Medical Association survey found that 94% of respondents reported treatment delays to prior authorization, and research suggests delays disproportionately impact those at-risk for prostate cancer, including Black patients and patients with lower incomes. Over 200 state bills were introduced last year to make needed reforms to prior authorization requirements for procedures, tests, treatment, and prescriptions. To ensure patients have timely access to medically necessary care, ZERO Prostate Cancer recommends swift passage of this bill and further efforts to reform prior authorization. Please follow up with georgia@zerocancer.org with any questions.

Comments Document

Dear Chair Ward and Members of the House Labor and Commerce Committee, On behalf of the Virginia Association of Hematologists and Oncologists (VAHO) and the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), I'm pleased to submit the attached letter in support of HB 299, which would streamline prior authorization practices in Virginia. Please let me know if you have any questions about cancer care - we're happy to be a resource. Best, Sarah Lanford

Please let me know about anything to do with ANY SOLAR or wind. Also why aren't you working on lowering this socialism health obamare that is failing! We pay double our house payment for healthcare. They do a certain percentage of what u make a year. I have to take money out of my 401k for healthcare that counts as income. It shouldn't count as income when you are taxing the heck out of us. We can't travel,most our prescriptions we use to take won't be covered and could go on and on about this robbery of people s hard earned money!