Sacramento - In an exciting move forward for California cancer patients, Assembly Bill 1000, The Access to Cancer Treatment Act was passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee today.

AB 1000 was introduced by Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) and would increase access to life saving chemotherapy by requiring health plans and insurers to provide oral medication for cancer treatment at the same affordable cost as intravenous treatments.

"Chemotherapy in pill form should be an option for cancer treatment but some insurance companies refuse to cover the cost, forcing cancer patients to make co-payments of as much as $8,000 a month."

Medical breakthroughs have significantly increased the treatment options and success rates for cancer patients. With pill form treatment accounting for more than 25 percent of the new cancer therapies, it's clear this innovative form of chemotherapy is the future of cancer treatment.

AB 1000 is supported by the following agencies:

American Cancer Society
Association of Northern California Oncologists
California Healthcare Institute
California Medical Association
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
California Professional Firefighters
International Myeloma Foundation
Latinas Contra Cancer
Leukemia Lymphoma Society

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Assemblymember Henry T. Perea represents the 31st District in the California State Assembly which includes the central San Joaquin Valley communities of Cutler-Orosi, Dinuba, Firebaugh, Fowler, Kerman, Mendota, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma and the city of Fresno.

Contact: Alisha Gallon 661-364-3655