Twelve men and women in congress will recommend how to save $1.2 trillion.
Cancer Prevention Programs Could Be At-Risk
The Super Committee — officially known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction — has wide latitude in how it plans to save more than $1 trillion over the next decade. But, it's widely expected that a significant part of that savings will come from cutting existing programs, which could include health programs.
There are many cancer-related programs at-risk of significant cuts:
Breast Cancer Prevention Programs
In October, an important federal program will provide its 10 millionth breast or cervical cancer screening to a woman who otherwise would not have been able to afford it. This program has been proven to save lives and has helped millions of women. But, it could be at risk for significant cuts.
Cancer Research
Today, there are nearly 12 million cancer survivors. Most owe their lives to cancer research that helped detect, treat and/or cure their cancer. Some previous budget proposals have threatened to cut funding for cancer research.
Medicare and Medicaid
Nearly 50% of all cancer patients receive health coverage through Medicaid or Medicare. These individuals are generally our oldest, least healthy and most vulnerable citizens, and they have no alternative way of accessing affordable medical care.