Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2026

Key Provisions

• Requires group health plans to charge the same or less for oral cancer drugs as for IV or injected cancer drugs.
• Applies this equal cost-sharing only to oral cancer drugs that a doctor finds medically necessary or clinically appropriate.
• Blocks health plans from increasing other out-of-pocket costs or making benefits harder to get for cancer medications to meet this new rule.
• Clarifies that health plans can still require prior approval for cancer drugs, but cannot set stricter limits for oral drugs than for IV drugs.
• Mandates a government study within two years to assess how these changes affect patient costs and to suggest ways to make cancer drugs more affordable.