Cancer Groups Urge Congressional Support for Cancer Care Legislation

Thirty leading organizations send letter to Congress

Thirty national organizations representing cancer survivors, physicians and researchers have joined forces under the banner of the Cancer Leadership Council in urging Congress to enact H.R.1078, The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act.

The legislation, introduced by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA), and co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 45 other House members, would ensure that Medicare patients receive coordinated and high quality cancer care by covering physician services for development of written care plans and follow-up survivorship plans.  The bill would also enhance the design and implementation of systems for coordinated cancer care and the training of professionals in a comprehensive approach to cancer therapy.

In a June 27, 2007 letter to Congress, the Cancer Leadership Council members said: “Cancer survivors face difficult choices from the time of diagnosis and may confront special challenges coordinating their therapy with proper management of the symptoms of cancer and side effects of care, including nausea and vomiting, pain, fatigue, and depression.  Cancer care is complicated, requiring the involvement of a multi-disciplinary care team and including active treatment, symptom management, and monitoring of the late and long-term effects of treatment.  Cancer survivors who enjoy a long life after diagnosis may require intensive treatment for the side effects of their initial therapy.  We commend the sponsors of H.R. 1078 for recognizing these fundamental facts of cancer care and addressing them in a meaningful way.”  

In urging Members of Congress to support the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act, the groups said the bill would “boost the quality of cancer care for Medicare beneficiaries and influence the delivery of care to all cancer survivors.”  Read the full text of the letter.

Rep. Capps welcomed the endorsement. “As we continue to search for a cure for cancer, it is critical that we adopt a more comprehensive approach to providing care for our cancer patients and survivors. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act would ensure that patients have access to proper management of their symptoms in order to provide the highest quality of care,” Capps said.

In addition to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, other cancer organizations urging support for the legislation are:

American Psychosocial Oncology Society                    
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology &
      Oncology
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Cancer Care
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
Fertile Hope
Gilda's Club Worldwide
International Myeloma Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Lung Cancer Alliance
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Lung Cancer Partnership
National Patient Advocate Foundation
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education
     and Support Network
The Wellness Community
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization

Introduced February 15, 2007, the bill has been referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.