December Advocacy Insider from the Susan G. Komen Foundation

December 2019 Updates Take Action for the Breast Cancer Research Stamp The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is set to expire at the end of this year and your voice is needed to help ensure that this critical program remains available. Legislators need to hear from all of us about the importance of the stamp and the critical urgency for reauthorization! Since it was first introduced in 1998, the stamp has generated more than $89 million for critical breast cancer research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense (DOD). This program allows individuals to make a contribution to breast cancer research by purchasing the stamp, while also playing an important role in raising awareness of the disease. Take action now to ensure this program continues! Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act Highlighted by CBS News Earlier this year, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) worked with Komen to introduce federal legislation to increase women’s access to diagnostic imaging. The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, H.R. 2428, would eliminate cost-sharing for patients with private insurance for medically-necessary diagnostic breast imaging (diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, MRI). This issue was spotlighted by CBS News, along with Komen’s efforts to pass similar legislation at the state level across the country. Join our efforts to stop  insurers from imposing cost-sharing practices for these medically necessary exams! Federal Public Policy & Advocacy Updates Appropriations With only six hours to spare, on November 21 President Trump signed another continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operating through December 20, allowing Congress more time for negotiations on  funding the government for FY 2020. Those of you who have been following the process closely will remember the main point of contention has been the top-line funding levels for each of the 12 spending bills, also known as the 302(b) allocations. Specifically, the Labor HHS bill—which includes funding for breast cancer research, screening and treatment—was one highly divisive sticking point as some sought to divert $5 billion from that bill to go toward construction of the border wall. Luckily House and Senate negotiators announced they had finally reached a deal on the 302(b) allocations shortly after Trump signed the second CR. Now, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees will need to iron out the details of each of the individual bills before they head to the chamber floors for a vote. With only two weeks left before the current CR runs out, it may be difficult to pass all 12 bills, but committee leadership has been optimistic they can get the work done! State Public Policy & Advocacy Updates Legislation Introduced in Florida Komen advocates have been hard at work in Florida, where two pieces of legislation have been introduced. House Bill 261, Coverage for Cancer and Associated Conditions Drug Treatment, will prohibit a health plan from requiring a patient with stage IV cancer to undergo burdensome fail first/step therapy protocols. Additionally, Senate Bill 416, known as Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Tests and Procedures, seeks to eliminate the patient out-of-pocket cost disparity between screening mammograms and medically-necessary diagnostic imaging. Sign up to be an advocate to join our fight in Florida and across the country! Welcome, Dana Carter! Dana is joining our team as the Regional Manager, State Policy & Advocacy for the North Central region, and is based in Indiana. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Indianapolis and received her Master of Public Administration from Indiana University. Previously Dana worked with the Indiana Farm Bureau where she built and maintained a grassroots group of engaged residents from Indiana (Hoosiers) to influence positive outcomes in agriculture and their communities. Additionally, she was responsible for representing the Indiana Farm Bureau and American Farm Bureau Federation at local, state, and federal events. General Public Policy & Advocacy Updates Advocate Spotlight – Kristen Stevens As a Komen HQ employee, Kristen first became involved with advocacy because of the implications for advocacy and public policy in advancing health equity in under-served communities, her main passion. Kristen says, “Working at Komen has opened my mind to what is achievable through advocating for specific policies, such as increasing funding for life-saving research at the DoD and NIH, and sitting across the table from the legislators who have the most influence on such policies.” Kristen is most passionate about issues that affect health equity, which happen to include all of our priority issues. Thank you, Kristen, for all you do for Komen to help achieve our Bold Goal!

komen.org | privacy policy | unsubscribe For breast health or breast cancer information call: 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) © 2019 Susan G. Komen®