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HB2536 • 2025

Prohibits health benefit plans from requiring step therapy prior to covering a prescription drug for the treatment of metastatic cancer and associated conditions.

Prohibits health benefit plans from requiring step therapy prior to covering a prescription drug for the treatment of metastatic cancer and associated conditions.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Grayber,, Senator Lieber, Representative Javadi,, Senator Frederick,
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In House Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prohibits health benefit plans from requiring step therapy prior to covering a prescription drug for the treatment of metastatic cancer and associated conditions.

Digest: The Act bans health benefit plans from using step therapy for certain cancer drugs and treatments.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: The Act bans health benefit plans from using step therapy for certain cancer drugs and treatments.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).
  • Prohibits health benefit plans from requiring step therapy prior to covering a prescription drug for the treatment of metastatic cancer and associated conditions.
  • Relating to: Relating to step therapy for metastatic cancer treatment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-27 House

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-02-11 House

    Public Hearing held.

  3. 2025-01-17 House

    Referred to Behavioral Health and Health Care.

  4. 2025-01-13 House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act bans health benefit plans from using step therapy for certain cancer drugs and treatments. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).
Prohibits health benefit plans from requiring step therapy prior to covering a prescription drug for the treatment of metastatic cancer and associated conditions.
Relating to: Relating to step therapy for metastatic cancer treatment.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2536
Sponsored by Representative GRAYBER, Senator LIEBER; Senator FREDERICK (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act bans health benefit plans from using step therapy for certain cancer drugs and
treatments. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).
Prohibits health benefit plans from requiring step therapy prior to covering a prescription drug
for the treatment of metastatic cancer and associated conditions.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to step therapy for metastatic cancer treatment.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of the Insurance Code.
SECTION 2. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Advanced metastatic cancer” means cancer that has spread from the primary or
original site to nearby tissues, lymph nodes or other parts of the body.
(b) “Associated conditions” means the symptoms or side effects associated with advanced
metastatic cancer or its treatment, which, at the discretion of a health care provider, fur-
ther jeopardize the health of a patient if left untreated.
(c) “Health benefit plan” has the meaning given that term in ORS 743B.005.
(d) “Step therapy” has the meaning given that term in ORS 743B.001.
(2) Notwithstanding ORS 743B.602, a health benefit plan that provides coverage for ad-
vanced metastatic cancer and associated conditions may not require step therapy prior to
providing coverage of a prescription drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Ad-
ministration.
(3) This section applies to the use of a drug that is:
(a) Consistent with best practices for the treatment of advanced metastatic cancer or
associated conditions; and
(b) Supported by peer-reviewed, evidence-based literature.
(4) This section is exempt from ORS 743A.001.
SECTION 3.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act applies to health benefit plans issued, offered or
renewed on or after January 1, 2026.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1399