California 2021 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SCR11 Amended / Bill

Filed 06/29/2021

                    Amended IN  Assembly  June 29, 2021 Amended IN  Assembly  June 14, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)February 04, 2021Relative to the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 11, as amended, Rubio. Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Remarkable advances in cancer science are creating more effective treatments and cures for patients affected by cancer; andWHEREAS, Unfortunately, many cancer patients do not benefit from these treatment advances, and some die needlessly as a result; andWHEREAS, The disconnect between advances in access to good-quality health care and the continuing gaps in the quality of cancer care is reflective of an important truth: cancer care is different; andWHEREAS, Cancer care is increasingly reliant on genetic and genomic testing to direct care for each individual patient; andWHEREAS, There is a growing understanding that there are hundreds of different cancer types that each may require different types of therapy. The complexities of cancer care include relying on the accuracy of initial diagnosis, choice of therapy, and access to appropriate clinical trials; andWHEREAS, There is significant variability in the ability of the community of medical oncologists to keep current with the most recent evidence due to complexities of cancer care in the precision medicine era; andWHEREAS, For many cancer patients, the best chance of a cure is the first chance of a cure, highlighting the need for access to appropriate expertise early in the cancer journey; andWHEREAS, There are disparities in cancer outcomes and access to leading-edge clinical trials based on race and socioeconomic status that are unfavorable to those that are most vulnerable and disadvantaged; andWHEREAS, It is imperative that California policymakers prioritize appropriate and timely access to expert cancer care for individuals; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the following principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state:(a) Cancer patients have a right to understand fully their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages.(b) Cancer patients have a right to transparent and timely processes that ensure direct access to contracting oncology specialists, diagnostic testing, and accurate interpretations of those tests.(c) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to contracting cancer subspecialists who have expertise in the treatment of their subtypes of cancers when complex decisions are needed.(d) Cancer patients have a right to direct and prompt access to medical treatments for pain management and other services that support their overall health.(e) Cancer patients have a right to direct access to contracting National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers and leading academic medical centers for the management of complex cancers that require multiple experts or high-risk or emerging therapies.(f) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to relevant clinical trials, medical research, and cutting-edge innovation, including evidence-supported precision medicine; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

 Amended IN  Assembly  June 29, 2021 Amended IN  Assembly  June 14, 2021 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)February 04, 2021Relative to the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 11, as amended, Rubio. Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO 

 Amended IN  Assembly  June 29, 2021 Amended IN  Assembly  June 14, 2021

Amended IN  Assembly  June 29, 2021
Amended IN  Assembly  June 14, 2021

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION

 Senate Concurrent Resolution 

No. 11

Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)February 04, 2021

Introduced by Senator Rubio(Principal coauthors: Assembly Members Gipson and Blanca Rubio)(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Becker, Dodd, Hueso, Jones, Limn, Newman, Ochoa Bogh, Pan, Portantino, Wiener, and Wilk)(Coauthors: Assembly Members Burke, Calderon, Chau, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Daly, Fong, Frazier, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Holden, Lackey, Levine, Patterson, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Rodriguez, Stone, and Villapudua)
February 04, 2021

Relative to the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SCR 11, as amended, Rubio. Cancer Patients Bill of Rights.

This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state.

This measure would proclaim specified principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

WHEREAS, Remarkable advances in cancer science are creating more effective treatments and cures for patients affected by cancer; and

WHEREAS, Unfortunately, many cancer patients do not benefit from these treatment advances, and some die needlessly as a result; and

WHEREAS, The disconnect between advances in access to good-quality health care and the continuing gaps in the quality of cancer care is reflective of an important truth: cancer care is different; and

WHEREAS, Cancer care is increasingly reliant on genetic and genomic testing to direct care for each individual patient; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing understanding that there are hundreds of different cancer types that each may require different types of therapy. The complexities of cancer care include relying on the accuracy of initial diagnosis, choice of therapy, and access to appropriate clinical trials; and

WHEREAS, There is significant variability in the ability of the community of medical oncologists to keep current with the most recent evidence due to complexities of cancer care in the precision medicine era; and

WHEREAS, For many cancer patients, the best chance of a cure is the first chance of a cure, highlighting the need for access to appropriate expertise early in the cancer journey; and

WHEREAS, There are disparities in cancer outcomes and access to leading-edge clinical trials based on race and socioeconomic status that are unfavorable to those that are most vulnerable and disadvantaged; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that California policymakers prioritize appropriate and timely access to expert cancer care for individuals; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims the following principles as the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights to make clear the Legislature supports the best cancer care for cancer patients in the state:

(a) Cancer patients have a right to understand fully their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages.

(b) Cancer patients have a right to transparent and timely processes that ensure direct access to contracting oncology specialists, diagnostic testing, and accurate interpretations of those tests.

(c) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to contracting cancer subspecialists who have expertise in the treatment of their subtypes of cancers when complex decisions are needed.

(d) Cancer patients have a right to direct and prompt access to medical treatments for pain management and other services that support their overall health.

(e) Cancer patients have a right to direct access to contracting National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers and leading academic medical centers for the management of complex cancers that require multiple experts or high-risk or emerging therapies.

(f) Cancer patients have a right to timely access to relevant clinical trials, medical research, and cutting-edge innovation, including evidence-supported precision medicine; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.