A new Georgia bill inspired by Former President Jimmy Carter's cancer treatment has now been approved by the Georgia lawmakers. The bill passed by Republican Representative Mike Cheokas aims to help stage 4 cancer patients to get full access to all treatments they need. It also prevents insurance companies from limiting their coverage of drugs needed by late stage cancer patients.
In August, 91-year-old Carter was diagnosed with skin cancer. He claimed that the cancer has spread to his brain, and that he needs to be treated with a drug that would detect cancer cells in his body. Four months later, Carter brain scan showed that there's no trace of cancer cells in his brain. Cheokas then passed the bill inspired by Carter's cancer treatment adding that no cancer patient should be deprived of seeking treatment because of insurance company's limited coverage, according to ABC News.
"With this legislation, we decided to do something that would be beneficial to victims of cancer, and at the same time we can recognize (Carter's) philanthropic endeavors," State Rep. Cheokas said.
The bill inspired by Carter's cancer treatment claims protection to late stage cancer patients to guaranteed treatments. Insurance companies cannot deny providing one or more treatments to patients before they grant other treatments, Macon reports. The representative claimed that there are certain insurance companies that ask patients to try other alternatives before they can get other treatments they need.
"We're talking about stage 4 stuff. It's moving from one part of the body to another part of the body," He said. "We want all the citizens of Georgia to receive the same benefits."
House Bill 965, which Cheokas has called the "Honorable Jimmy Carter Cancer Treatment Access Act", would apply to health plans that cover treatments for advanced stage metastatic cancer, AJC claims. Cheokas passed the bill to help Georgian cancer patients to receive the same treatment that cured his friend, Carter.
Carter's cancer treatment is still continuous. The bill is now under the senate for review.
