Advocacy Insider from the Susan G. Komen Foundation

September 2019 Advocacy Insider Susan G. Komen Introduces the Center for Public Policy We are excited to announce that we are unveiling the next evolution in Komen's public policy and advocacy work – the Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy! Since our early days, we have worked to mobilize our communities to take action. The Center for Public Policy is not a separate organization, but rather is new unifying identity for the critical work we are doing together to take action through public policy in the fight against breast cancer. The new identity includes an inspiring new tagline – Powered by YOU. This tagline speaks to the essence of our advocacy work. Together, we ensure the voice and needs of the breast cancer patient, survivor and the people who love them are heard by policymakers and government regulators across the United States.  On September 18th we will hold a live-streamed launch of the Center for Public Policy which will include a discussion between a stakeholders and patients to discuss barriers to breast cancer research, detection and treatment and the role policy plays in creating solutions. Please watch the live-stream of Enough is Enough: Ending Breast Cancer Mortality through Policy, and help us get the word out by inviting your network to join! On September 18th we will hold a live-streamed launch of the Center for Public Policy which will include a discussion between a stakeholders and patients to discuss barriers to breast cancer research, detection and treatment and the role policy plays in creating solutions. Please watch the live-stream of Enough is Enough: Ending Breast Cancer Mortality through Policy, and help us get the word out by inviting your network to join! Stage IV Stampede Susan G. Komen is pleased to again support and partner with METAvivor on their 2019 Stage IV Stampede October 10-11 in Washington DC. Join the MBC community for this event and make your voice heard on Capitol Hill! The Stage IV Stampede is part of a grassroots effort to bring volunteers together from across the country to Washington, DC, to advocate for advancing medical research and improving access to quality healthcare for individuals impacted by MBC. For more information and to register click here. Federal Public Policy & Advocacy Updates Legislation Through our relentless advocacy and grassroots activity, our voices are being heard and driving change within the 116th Congress. There are many pieces of critical legislation that have been introduced, but we need your help to ensure your elected officials are putting breast cancer patients first. Read on for more information on the legislation that Komen is working on at the Federal level, and most importantly add your voice to our fight through one of the campaigns on our action center! Cancer Drug Parity Act – H.R. 1730/S. 741 Scientific breakthroughs have dramatically changed the way we treat cancer with an increasing number of oral anti-cancer therapies becoming available. Unfortunately, outdated policies for insurance coverage haven't kept up and often force patients to pay much higher out-of-pocket costs for medicines taken orally than those intravenous (IV). For many patients battling cancer, oral anti-cancer therapies are sometimes the only treatment option, not just the best option. Join your voice with breast cancer advocates from across the country and encourage your Members of Congress to cosponsor the Cancer Drug Parity Act to ensure anyone who has ever received a breast cancer diagnosis has access to the anti-cancer treatments they need. Take action! Lymphedema Treatment Act – H.R. 1948/S. 518 After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and going through treatment, some breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema as a result of surgery or radiation to the lymph nodes in the armpit. Any person who has breast cancer surgery and lymph nodes removed is at risk for developing lymphedema, and remains at risk for the rest of their life. Medicare covers certain limited therapies and equipment related to lymphedema treatment; however, inconsistent interpretations of federal statutes mean incomplete coverage for compression bandages, garments, devices and specialized supplies required for daily clinical and home treatment of lymphedema. The Lymphedema Treatment Act will improve access to lymphedema coverage by enabling Medicare coverage for compression supplies, including compression garments, bandages, and devices, which are the cornerstone of lymphedema treatment. Take action! Appropriations With Congress back home for the summer recess, Washington was pretty quiet in August. Before they headed out of town, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, which raised the limit on discretionary federal spending by $321 billion over two years. Passing this legislation paved the way for the Senate to finish their outstanding work on their FY2020 appropriations bills once they return to DC, the House passed their versions earlier this year. Initially, it looked like Congress would be on track to pass at least some of the 12 required appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th, including the Labor-HHS-Education and Defense bills that find breast cancer research, screening, and treatment programs. While the Senate Appropriations Committee is planning to consider four of the bills, including the Labor –HHS-Education and Defense on September 12th, there has been some controversy over the diversion of $5 billion for border wall funding from the Labor-HHS-Education bill, making chances of the bill’s passage before the deadline slim. In fact, new reports are indicating that Congress will take up a continuing resolution (CR) to provide stopgap funding for the federal government through the Thanksgiving recess.  While a lot is still up in the air, one thing we know for sure is that Congress has a busy month ahead! General Policy & Advocacy Updates Advocate Spotlight – Geoffrey Wahl Geoffrey Wahl is a Salk Institute professor in the Gene Expression Laboratory, an adjunct professor at the University of California, San Diego in the Department of Biology, a past- president of the American Association for Cancer Research, and a Komen Scholar. Currently overseeing three different research projects, Geoffrey’s team is hoping to better understand cancers and develop better therapies for breast cancer patients. Geoffrey’s most passionate about ensuring adequate funding for life-saving research that will help all cancer patients, as well as guaranteeing patients have equal access to the care they need. When Geoffrey isn’t busy trying to find a cure for breast cancer and advocating for patients, he enjoys cooking, travel and photography, and hopes to enjoy these hobbies with his new grand-baby! Our Team is Growing! We are searching for two Regional Managers, State Policy & Advocacy in the North Central and Northeast. This position will be responsible for initiatives related to breast cancer and public health policy in the North Central and Northeast Regions.

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