Cancer is a medical, political, social, psychological, and economic issue. Every day, government policymakers make decisions that affect the lives of more than eight million cancer survivors, their families, and all potential cancer patients.
The following resources offer important information and action alerts on public policies and legislative issues affecting cancer care.
US Oncology LegisLink
A Community Education Service of US Oncology. Among the many resources included here are tips on meeting with your Senators and Representatives; a Public Relations toolkit and access to Sign-On Letters for cancer care.
American Society of Clinical Oncology(ASCO)
The current Medicare reform legislation (H.R. 1 and S. 1) includes provisions that would slash Medicare coverage of chemotherapy and other critical cancer care. The provisions in the House and Senate bills would remove hundreds of millions of dollars from the American cancer care system, dramatically cutting Medicare reimbursement for chemotherapy without adequately reimbursing for the critical services that make cancer care possible - oncology nurses, pharmacists, equipment, counseling and patient support. Click on the link above for more background information and news coverage of the cancer community's activities to denounce this portion of the Medicare Bill.
As the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who treat people with cancer, ASCO is committed to advancing the education of oncologists and other oncology professionals, to advocating for policies that provide access to high-quality cancer care, and to supporting the clinical trials system and the need for increased clinical and translational research. They also provide information to their patients at www.cancer.net
American Cancer Society
To positively influence legislative and public policy decisions, the American Cancer Society has identified advocacy as one of its top priorities. The organization works continuously to promote beneficial policies, laws, and regulations for those affected by cancer.
National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship
Advocacy, as NCCS defines it, is a continuum. It begins with self-advocacy - when an individual patient or caregiver to someone with cancer speaks up for that patient and is an active participant in his or her care. Some take their experiences as cancer survivors and caregivers to the community level by sharing what they've learned with neighbors and friends. At the other end of the continuum is national public interest advocacy, which is the focus of NCCS' work.