SCLD Update
July 1997

Breast Cancer Detection
Cervical Cancer Detection
Prostate Cancer Detection
Cancer-General
Tobacco-Use Reduction
State-of-the-Art Treatment
Cancer Registries
Occupational Exposure Reduction
Addendum
Enacted Legislation and Adopted Resolutions

State-of-the-Art Treatment

A law passed in Tennessee (S.B. 834) prohibits specified insurers, including HMOs and Medicare supplement policies, that provide coverage for drugs from excluding coverage for off- label indications for life-threatening illnesses on the grounds that the drug has not been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for that indication. The drug must be recognized for the indication in one of the following: (1) the United States Pharmacopoeia Drug Information, (2) the American Medical Association Drug Evaluations, (3) the American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information, or (4) scientific studies published in any peer-reviewed national professional journal. Required coverage includes medically necessary services associated with the administration of the drug. However, the law does not require coverage for experimental drugs not otherwise approved for any indication by the FDA and any drug determined by the FDA to be contraindicated.