Comprehensive Cancer Care Bill Introduced
Federal legislation that would enhance coordinated cancer care for hundreds of thousands of cancer patients has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act, sponsored by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Charles Boustany (R-LA), encourages care planning as a core element of cancer care by establishing Medicare payment for the development of cancer care plans and the communication of these plans to patients. It provides similar payment for the development of a treatment summary that would outline follow-up care for cancer survivors. Companion legislation will soon be introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA).
"More and more Americans are fighting cancer and surviving, which is certainly a good thing," says Congresswoman Capps, a registered nurse and Vice-Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. "But as our war against cancer evolves so must our approach to treating and caring for those who have survived this disease but are still struggling with the unique challenges presented by survival. As part of this effort, it is critical that we adopt a more comprehensive approach to providing care for our expanding population of cancer patients and survivors."
“Communication between patients and doctors is critical, especially when deciding on treatment options after a cancer diagnosis," adds Congressman Boustany, a cardiovascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience.
In a series of reports published over the last decade, the Institute of Medicine has documented the benefits of written care plans which detail all of the elements of treatment for cancer patients and survivors (including the side effects of these treatments) and detail appropriate steps to monitor these effects during survivorship. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act would expand access to such care planning for patients and also test and expand model systems of comprehensive cancer care and enhance the training of professionals who treat cancer survivors. The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) has endorsed the legislation.
"Lymphoma patients and their loved ones face numerous challenges from the moment they are diagnosed," explains LRF Houston Chapter President Donna Reinbolt, who is also a lymphoma survivor. "Like all cancer patients, they struggle to understand the various treatment options that are presented by their health care providers while also managing the serious side effects of their treatment. This legislation encourages the delivery of coordinated, quality care to those facing a cancer diagnosis from the moment of that diagnosis through survivorship."
This August, LRF advocates and chapter members will participate in local meetings with their federal legislators and encourage them to co-sponsor the bill. Coordinated by chapter leaders and national LRF staff, the meetings provide a unique opportunity for members of the lymphoma community to describe the impact the legislation could have on their lives.
 "Meetings with our federal legislators allow us to describe how this and other pieces of federal legislation will affect lymphoma patients and survivors," says Ken Ditzian, Advocacy Chair of the LRF Massachusetts Chapter and a lymphoma survivor. "Participating in legislative visits is critically important since many members of Congress may not know what it is like to receive a cancer diagnosis. I am supporting the Foundation’s efforts to pass this important legislation because personally, I know what it's like to hear those three feared words: you have cancer."
To learn how you can become involved in local legislative visits and take part in meetings with your federal legislators to discuss this important legislation, visit the LRF online Advocacy Tool Kit. Members of the lymphoma community can also appeal to their Representatives in Congress to support the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act by using the resources provided in the LRF Public Policy and Advocacy Action Center. |
