News from The Cancer Policy Institure /Cancer Support Community

 

Take Action Now: Urge the Administration to Protect Coverage Within Medicare’s Six "Protected Classes"

Dear Catherine,

 

Join advocates from across the country in urging the Administration to protect coverage within Medicare’s six "protected classes."

 

Under a proposed policy from the previous Administration, health plans would be allowed to reduce their coverage of drugs in Medicare’s six “protected classes” — a policy change that could have negative consequences for patients, including those impacted by cancer.

 

The drugs in these six protected classes are often used by patients with serious chronic illnesses, including cancer. Since the cost of using medications within these protected classes may be high, Congress created protections to prevent discriminatory practices intended to limit and/or discourage the use of these drugs.

Please lend your voice to this important issue by urging the current Administration to withdraw the proposed policy and protect coverage within Medicare’s six "protected classes."

Take Action

This proposed policy change could jeopardize the ability of people with Medicare health coverage to medications used to manage serious illnesses such as cancer, mental illness, HIV-AIDS, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and organ transplantation. Please join the Cancer Support Community's national grassroots campaign to urge the Administration to swiftly withdraw this proposed policy.

 

Take two minutes today and make your voice heard!

 

Cancer Support Community

“So that No One Faces Cancer Alone”

734 15th Street NW | Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005

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ADVOCACY Request from the Cancer Support Community

 

Take Action Now: Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act

Dear Catherine,

 

Join advocates from across the country in asking your member of Congress to cosponsor the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.

 

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act legislation would help protect patients from unnecessary delays in care by streamlining and standardizing prior authorization under the Medicare Advantage program, providing much-needed oversight and transparency of health insurance for America’s seniors. 

Please lend your voice to this important issue by writing to your Representative asking them to cosponsor the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.

Take Action

More seniors than ever before are choosing Medicare Advantage plans for their health insurance needs. According to a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation report, Medicare Advantage enrollment has nearly doubled in a decade. One-third of all Medicare beneficiaries — 22 million people — are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, and nearly four out of five enrollees are in plans that require prior authorization for some services. The Congressional Budget Office projects that beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans will rise to nearly half of all Medicare beneficiaries by 2029.

 

Take action today and make your voice heard!

 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, MSW

Executive Director, Cancer Policy Institute

action@cancersupportcommunity.org

Cancer Support Community

“So that No One Faces Cancer Alone”

734 15th Street NW | Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005

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ADVOCACY REQUEST from the Cancer Support Community

 

Take Action Now: Ask Your Elected Officials to Cosponsor the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act

Dear Catherine,

 

Join advocates from across the country in asking your elected officials to cosponsor the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act.

 

Clinical trials are a promising avenue for expanding treatment options and extending survival for people with cancer. However, steep out-of-pocket costs associated with trial participation and gaps in insurance coverage create barriers for many cancer patients. Medicaid insures one-fifth of the US population and is the only major health care insurer that is not required by federal law to cover routine costs associated with participation in clinical trials.

 

The CLINICAL TREATMENT Act (H.R. 913 and S. 4742) would fix this, bringing Medicaid in line with federal requirements for clinical trials coverage in Medicare and private health insurance. This legislation guarantees coverage of the routine care costs of clinical trial participation for Medicaid enrollees regardless of their state of residence.

Please lend your voice to this important issue by writing to your Representative and Senators asking them to cosponsor the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act.

Take Action

Robust clinical trial participation improves the quality of medical research. Increased access to clinical trial participation for Medicaid enrollees helps ensure medical research results more accurately capture and reflect the populations of this country.

 

Take action today and make your voice heard!

 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, MSW

Executive Director, Cancer Policy Institute

action@cancersupportcommunity.org

Cancer Support Community

“So that No One Faces Cancer Alone”

734 15th Street NW | Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005

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News from the Cancer Support Community

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser The Cancer Support Community has been working diligently through this global health crisis to ensure the needs of all those facing cancer are being met. We have taken swift action to adapt and increase the availability of our free, patient-focused support and navigation services as the cancer community coped with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.   We’re pleased to share with you our COVID-19 Impact Index that describes what your support has made possible in the lives of cancer patients during these difficult times. Hundreds have received direct financial assistance, thousands have received expert guidance from our Helpline, which expanded to operating seven days a week, and tens of thousands have accessed updated, informative content at our Coronavirus Resources Page—all available for free through CSC. None of these examples of impact would have been possible without you. Thank you. A few highlights from the COVID-19 Impact Index appear below, and we invite you to flip through the full report to read more stories, see pictures, and more.     Impact Index Highlights Cancer Emergency Fund: In March, the Cancer Support Community launched the Cancer Emergency Fund to provide economically-distressed individuals facing cancer with $250 relief grants to help cover basic expenses, such as food, rent, and utilities. To date, 400 individuals facing hardship have received financial grants.  Patient Advocacy and Research: In March and April, CSC conducted a study that included hundreds of patients, survivors, and caregivers to understand their struggles. It revealed that 42% are worried about food and living supplies and nearly one-third are worried about getting their medications from the pharmacy. The findings will ensure policymakers, the media, and other influencers keep the patient’s experience at the center of the COVID-19 response.  Strategic Partnerships:  We’ve partnered with Airbnb to find free temporary housing for medical first responders near the medical centers where they are serving. In light of the Navajo Nation having the highest COVID-19 infection rate in the country, we established an emergency response fund to support the Tuba City Regional Health Care Center and secured many donations of food and clean water.