ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 986

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 5, 2021

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 986.

     As amended, this bill provides that a physician may offer to test a patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency prior to the patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment with drugs containing fluoropyrimidines if the physician determines that the test is medically necessary.  Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency is a disorder in which the human body experiences difficultly or is unable to breakdown chemotherapy drugs leading to a harmful reaction.

     Under the bill, health insurance plans in this State are to cover expenses incurred in conducting tests for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments provide that a physician may offer to test a patient for dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency if the physician determines that the test is medically necessary.  The committee amendments also remove the provisions of the bill that limit health care insurance coverage to one annual test.