Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0530 – Anticancer Medication Cost-Sharing Requirements
Bill Summary
House Bill 530 creates new Section 41-1854 in Idaho Code to regulate health insurance coverage for anticancer medications. The legislation requires health benefit plans that cover FDA-approved anticancer medications to ensure that cost-sharing requirements—including copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance—for orally administered anticancer medications are not higher than those for injected or intravenously administered versions of such medications. As an alternative compliance mechanism, plans may cap out-of-pocket costs for oral anticancer medications at $250 per 30-day supply.
The bill includes specific prohibitions to prevent insurers from circumventing the requirements by increasing costs for other anticancer medications or reclassifying benefits. The legislation clarifies that plans are not required to classify anticancer medications as medical benefits rather than pharmacy benefits. The bill contains an emergency clause declaring it necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
Overall Assessment
This bill receives a total score of 0, indicating it has no meaningful impact on the principles and policy priorities outlined in the evaluation framework. While the legislation addresses health insurance regulation—a topic that could theoretically intersect with healthcare policy considerations—the specific focus on cost-sharing parity for anticancer medications does not substantively advance or conflict with any of the evaluated metrics. The bill represents a narrow technical adjustment to insurance coverage requirements that operates within existing regulatory frameworks without expanding or contracting government in ways that affect the assessed policy areas.
The neutral scoring reflects that this legislation, despite regulating private health insurance markets, does not trigger concerns under the evaluation criteria as applied. The bill’s provisions regarding anticancer medication cost-sharing do not implicate broader questions of government responsibility, private property rights, economic policy, or healthcare system structure in ways that align with or oppose the specific principles measured by the framework. The legislation is essentially orthogonal to the policy priorities assessed in this evaluation system.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill does not impact government spending, taxation, or the scope of government programs in ways that relate to fiscal responsibility principles. The legislation regulates private insurance contracts but does not create new government programs or expenditures.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill does not address citizen participation in government processes, transparency, or public involvement in decision-making. The legislation focuses on insurance regulation without implications for civic engagement.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (0)
This bill has no connection to education policy, school systems, curriculum, or educational funding. The legislation addresses health insurance coverage for medications.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This bill does not relate to agricultural policy, farming operations, or rural economic issues. The legislation concerns health insurance regulation.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
This bill has no impact on water rights, water quality, or water resource management. The legislation addresses health insurance coverage requirements.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This bill does not address natural resource management, environmental protection, or conservation issues. The legislation focuses on health insurance regulation.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
This bill has no connection to energy policy, energy production, or energy regulation. The legislation concerns health insurance coverage for medications.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This bill does not relate to Idaho National Laboratories operations, research, or policy. The legislation addresses health insurance requirements.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
This bill does not impact property ownership, land use rights, or takings issues. While it regulates insurance contracts, it does not affect property rights as evaluated under this metric.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This bill has no connection to state or federal land management, public lands policy, or land transfer issues. The legislation concerns health insurance regulation.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
This bill does not address wildlife management, hunting, fishing, or habitat conservation. The legislation focuses on health insurance coverage requirements.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
This bill does not substantively impact economic development, business regulation, or market conditions in ways that align with the economic policy principles evaluated. The narrow insurance regulation does not trigger economic policy concerns under this framework.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
This bill does not affect the principles evaluated under health and welfare policy as defined by this framework. While it addresses health insurance, it does not implicate the specific healthcare policy priorities measured by this metric.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (0)
This bill has no connection to family structure, parental rights, or family policy issues. The legislation addresses health insurance coverage requirements.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
This bill does not specifically address policies affecting older Americans, senior services, or retirement issues. The legislation applies broadly to health insurance coverage.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
This bill has no connection to criminal justice, law enforcement, or public safety issues. The legislation concerns health insurance regulation.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
This bill does not relate to national defense, border security, or immigration policy. The legislation addresses health insurance coverage requirements.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
This bill has no connection to judicial selection, court structure, or judicial accountability. The legislation concerns health insurance regulation.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
This bill does not impact religious freedom, religious exercise, or conscience protections. The legislation addresses health insurance coverage for medications without religious liberty implications.