Cancer survivor sees Ohio House passing HB 135 as a win

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio cancer survivor and advocate pushed for copay reform since last year, and Wednesday, she celebrated a win in the Ohio Legislature.

Julie Turner was diagnosed with stage-three cancer when she was a senior in high school.

“It was a dark time in my life,” said Turner. “I was fearful, my family was fearful, because we had no idea what was going to happen to me and how long I would live.”

After 12 courses of chemotherapy and 60 radiation treatments, she beat cancer.

But, at age 64, the effects of the extensive treatment still affect her. 

“It was going to haunt my life for the rest of my life,” she said.

Turner lost her ability to have children, has a heart valve and is immunocompromised.

As a result, she’s no stranger to medical visits and hits her out-of-pocket insurance maximum every year. But, when she eventually got​ financial help from a drug company, her insurance wasn’t counting the credit toward her maximum.

“I was in a copay accumulator issue, but there was a piece of legislation being proposed at the statehouse,” said Turner.

House Bill 135 would outlaw not being able to use coupons or copays toward an out-of-pocket maximum, helping people with chronic conditions like Turner.

It’s sponsored by Reps. Thomas West, D-West, and Susan Manchester, R-Waynesfield. The bipartisan bill passed through the House on March 30, which is also National Cancer Action Day. 

“As a cancer survivor, I know the most powerful tool that I have in my toolbox is my story,” said Turner. “The second most powerful tool is that I’m a constituent who has a story.”

House Bill 135 will head to the senate for a vote next.