Bill Text: CT HB06709 | 2015 | General Assembly | Comm Sub
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Right To Try Experimental Drugs.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-21 - Tabled for the Calendar, House [HB06709 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2015-HB06709-Comm_Sub.html
General Assembly |
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January Session, 2015 |
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AN ACT CONCERNING THE RIGHT TO TRY EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) (a) For purposes of this section and sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act:
(1) "Investigational drug, biological product or device" means a drug, biological product or device that has successfully completed phase one of a clinical trial but has not yet been approved for general use by the federal Food and Drug Administration and remains under investigation in a clinical trial approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
(2) "Patient" means a person who has a terminal illness, verified by the patient's treating physician, and is not being treated as an inpatient in a hospital licensed under chapter 368v of the general statutes.
(3) "Treating physician" means a physician licensed under chapter 370 of the general statutes who has primary responsibility for the medical care of the patient and treatment of the patient's terminal illness.
(4) "Terminal illness" means a medical condition that a patient's treating physician anticipates, with reasonable medical judgment, will result in a patient's death or a state of permanent unconsciousness from which recovery is unlikely within a period of one year.
(b) A patient is eligible to receive treatment with an investigational drug, biological product or device if the patient has (1) considered all other treatment options currently approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, (2) been unable to participate in a clinical trial for the terminal illness not more than one hundred miles from the patient's home address, or not been accepted to a clinical trial not more than one week after completion of the clinical trial application process, (3) received a recommendation from his or her treating physician for an investigational drug, biological product or device, (4) given written, informed consent for the use of the investigational drug, biological product or device, as provided in subsection (c) of this section, or, if the patient is a minor or lacks the mental capacity to provide informed consent, a parent or legal guardian has given such written, informed consent on the patient's behalf, and (5) written documentation from his or her treating physician stating that the patient meets the requirements of this subsection.
(c) A patient gives written informed consent when the patient, or if the patient is a minor the patient's parent or legal guardian, signs a written document, verified by the patient's treating physician and a witness that at a minimum: (1) Explains the currently approved products and treatments for the terminal illness from which the patient suffers, (2) verifies the fact that the patient concurs with his or her treating physician in believing that all currently approved and conventionally recognized treatments are unlikely to prolong the patient's life, (3) clearly identifies the specific proposed investigational drug, biological product or device with which the patient is seeking to be treated, (4) describes the potentially best and worst outcomes of using the investigational drug, biological product or device with a realistic description of the most likely outcome, including the possibility that new, unanticipated, different or worse symptoms might result and that death could be hastened by the proposed treatment based on the treating physician's knowledge of the proposed treatment in conjunction with an awareness of the patient's condition, (5) makes clear that the patient's health insurer, treating physician or other health care provider is not obligated to pay for any care or treatments resulting from the use of the investigational drug, biological product or device, (6) makes clear that the patient's eligibility for hospice care may be withdrawn if the patient begins treatment with an investigational drug, biological product or device, but that hospice care may be reinstated if such treatment ends and the patient meets hospice eligibility requirements, (7) makes clear that in-home health care may be denied if such treatment begins, and (8) states that the patient understands that the patient is liable for all expenses resulting from the use of the investigational drug, biological product or device and that this liability extends to the patient's estate, unless a contract between the patient and the manufacturer of the drug, biological product or device states otherwise.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) A manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product or device may make available the manufacturer's investigational drug, biological product or device to a patient, who is eligible under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act, and may (1) provide the investigational drug, biological product or device to such patient without receiving compensation, or (2) require such patient to pay the costs of, or associated with, the manufacture of the investigational drug, biological product or device.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) (a) A health insurer may provide coverage for the cost of an investigational drug, biological product or device made available to a patient, who is eligible under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act, pursuant to section 2 of this act.
(b) A health insurer may deny coverage to such patient from the time such patient begins treatment with the investigational drug, biological product or device for a period not to exceed six months from the date such patient ceases treatment with the investigational drug, biological product or device, except coverage may not be denied for a preexisting condition or for coverage for benefits that commenced prior to the date such patient begins such treatment.
(c) Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of sections 38a-504a to 38a-504g, inclusive, and 38a-542a to 38a-542g, inclusive, of the general statutes concerning insurance coverage for certain costs associated with clinical trials. Treatment with an investigational drug, biological product or device pursuant to sections 1 to 5, inclusive, of this act is not considered a clinical trial for purposes of said sections.
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 370 of the general statutes, the Department of Public Health or the Connecticut Medical Examining Board shall not revoke, fail to renew, suspend or take any disciplinary action against a physician based solely on the physician's recommendation to a patient regarding access to, or treatment with, an investigational drug, biological product or device, provided such recommendation is consistent with medical standards of care.
(b) No official, employee or agent of the state shall prevent, or attempt to prevent, a patient who is eligible under subsection (b) of section 1 of this act from accessing an investigational drug, biological product or device.
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2015) Nothing in sections 1 to 4, inclusive, of this act shall create a private cause of action against a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product or device or against the patient's treating physician or any other person or entity involved in the care of a patient being treated with an investigational drug, biological product or device for any harm done to such patient resulting from the investigational drug, biological product or device.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: | ||
Section 1 |
October 1, 2015 |
New section |
Sec. 2 |
October 1, 2015 |
New section |
Sec. 3 |
October 1, 2015 |
New section |
Sec. 4 |
October 1, 2015 |
New section |
Sec. 5 |
October 1, 2015 |
New section |
PH |
Joint Favorable Subst. |
|
JUD |
Joint Favorable |