Wisconsin’s sixth district congressman is trying to make it easier to get a new form of chemotherapy.
In 2025, Congressman Glenn Grothman reintroduced the Cancer Drug Parity Act, which is supposed to lower costs for cancer patients prescribed oral medications.
The bill would require health insurers to cover oral cancer treatments on the same level as traditional intravenous (IV) therapies.
During a hearing of the Subcommittee on Healthcare and Financial Services, which Rep. Grothman chairs, the Glenbeulah Republican says it was laid out how drug companies and the pharmaceutical industry are benefiting more with the current system in place.
“I’m trying to say if your doctor wants you take oral chemo, you can take oral chemo right away,” he explained on the WCUB Breakfast Club. “It’s time we stood up one more time to the pharmaceutical industry and stand up to the insurance companies.”
Rep. Grothman also stated that the pill form of chemo was far superior and safer than getting it through an IV.
During the subcommittee hearing, Rep. Grothman asked three witnesses, including Cancer Oncology Alliance CEO Ted Okon, why the way oral chemo has not kept pace with changes in how it’s paid for.
Okon testified that three Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, control 80% of the prescription drug market.
“You have to realize each one of those PBMs is owned by an insurance company,” he stated. “In fact, in some cases, the insurance company owns the physicians as well, with United Healthcare. So the problem is that as these companies have seen these oral cancer drugs, and upward of 30%, we’re going on 40% of cancers are treated with oral cancer drugs, you have to realize they are gold to these PBMs.”
Okon also claimed that the companies will push the most expensive drugs for patients as well.
Rep. Grothman hopes to pass the bill before the end of this year or early next year.
