Act Now - Urge Congress to Improve Comprehensive Cancer Care

Reps. Lois Capps and Charles Boustany and Sen. Mary Landrieu have introduced the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1844 and S. 1773).

The bills seek to coordinate active treatment and ensure a smooth transition from that treatment to survivorship care and follow-up by establishing a new Medicare service for cancer care planning, and authorizing model programs for delivery of coordinated cancer care, including initiatives targeting the medically underserved.

It amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of comprehensive cancer care planning services and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a two-year demonstration project for Medicare payment for comprehensive cancer care symptom management services furnished by an eligible entity in accordance with a described plan. In addition, it directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities for establishing a new, or expanding an existing, palliative care and symptom management program for cancer patients, directs the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities to improve the quality of graduate and postgraduate training of physicians, nurses, and other health care providers, as well as continuing professional education, in palliative care and symptom management for such patients. It also requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish a program of grants for research on palliative care, symptom management, communication skills, and other end-of-life topics for such patients.

Please, urge your elected officials to support the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act now!

For more information, go to: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1844/show