Section 47L Off-label drug use; cancer; review panel - Massachusetts Statutes

Section 47L. The commissioner shall establish a panel of six medical experts to review off-label uses, so-called, for prescription drugs for the treatment of cancer not included in any of the standard reference compendia or in the medical literature and to advise said commissioner in such instances whether a particular off-label use is medically appropriate. The panel shall make such recommendations from time to time and whenever a particular dispute about payment for such off-label use is referred to the panel by the commissioner. The members of said panel shall include: (a) three medical oncologists selected by the state medical oncology association, (b) a physician selected by the Massachusetts medical association, (c) a physician selected by a hospital and medical service corporation and (d), a physician selected by the Massachusetts association of health maintenance organizations from a member plan.

The commissioner shall have the authority to direct any insurer to make payments, consistent with the recommendations of the panel, required by section forty-seven K, section eight N of chapter one hundred and seventy-six A, section four N of chapter one hundred and seventy-six B and section four E of chapter one hundred and seventy-six G.