ASCO Advocacy Summit

I am a patient advocate member of ASCO and last week I joined oncologists and members of ASCO in Washington, DC as part of the ASCO Advocacy Summit. We had training  sessions on Wednesday and on Thursday we visited our Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

ASCO On the Hill.

I was paired with Dr Charles Miller from Hawaii so we visited the offices of both NJ and Hawaii legislators.

Visiting with Congressman Case (Hawaii)

The bills we asked our legislators to support:
HR 913 Clinical Treatment Act - We stressed the importance of participation by Medicaid patients in clinical trials and the stumbling blocks to participation they currently experience. Meidcaid insures one-fifth of the US population. Yet only 12 states currently allow Medicaid coverage of clinical trial routine care. In those states that cover clinical trials there has been a minimal effect on overall care costs. We asked that patients on Medicaid receive coverage for routine care when enrolled in a clinical trial.

HR 3107  Improving Senior Timely Access to Care Act - Seniors on Medicare Advantage plans are  experiencing delays in  medically necessary testing and treatment due to slow prior authorization policies. Denials are sent without explanations of the determination. We asked that a uniform e- authorization be created for Seniors on these plans and that an explanation of denial be provided so that timely access to care can take place.

HR 2279 / S 2546 Safe Step Act -  Step therapy protocols requires patients to try and fail medications suggested by the payer before the medication prescribed by the doctor can be used Allowing this process in cancer care would delay access to the best treatment for cancer patients and also increase side effects and reduce quality of life. I was happy to learn that Rep Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ)  has already co-sponsored the House Bill. 

While I did not speak to Senators Booker, Menendez or Congresswoman Watson Coleman in person their aides were very interested in hearing how these bills would effect the people in New Jersey.

You may not be able to travel to DC to speak to your legislators but if any of these bills are important to you it is easy to reach out to your Senators or Congressmen via e-mail or phone and ask them to support the bills that are important to you.

Thank you ASCO for allowing me to be the voice of cancer patients in NJ.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!