March Advocacy Roundup

John Seffrin and Lance Armstrong Team Up for Cancer Research
Last week, John Seffrin and LIVESTRONG founder Lance Armstrong appeared together at a press conference in Washington, D.C. to send a message to Congress that cancer patients cannot wait any longer for new livesaving treatments.  Joined by National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, Seffrin and Armstrong called on Congress to commit to sustained federal funding for research and proven screening programs so that past progress isn’t squandered against a disease that kills an estimated 1,500 people in America each day.  Also joining them was ACS CAN volunteer Tracy Elliman of Pennsylvania, a former National Cancer Institute clinical trial participant whose follow-up trial was canceled due to lack of funding.
At the event, Seffrin and Armstrong revealed new polling data showing that more than three-quarters of the public opposes cutting funding for cancer research (77%) and prevention programs (76%) as part of the effort to reduce federal spending. Public opposition is strong across party lines – more than 60% of Republicans, more than 75% of Independents and nearly 90% of Democrats are opposed to cuts in cancer funding. The funding bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives for the remainder of FY11 would cut the NIH budget by 5.2% and the CDC budget by 21%.  View the polling summary.
  
The Affordable Care Act Turns One
Erin T. is a 24-year-old breast cancer patient living in New York City.  Prior to the Affordable Care Act, the only way for Erin to remain insured was to stay in school, so she did that and paid tuition even while going through treatment, ruining her GPA because of how sick she was and how much school she missed.  Since September, Erin has been able to stop school and focus on her disease, thanks to the new provisions allowing her to remain on her parents' insurance policy until she turns 26.  Erin's condition is improving, but she still needs regular exams and bone scans, and is currently battling a bone lesion.  Thankfully, she does not have to battle her insurance company for coverage, or push herself to stay in school while trying to get well.  Erin is grateful for the benefits of the Affordable Care Act that greatly improved her outlook on life. 

One year after the new health care law, stories like Erin's are becoming more and more common, as key provisions are already improving the health care system for those with cancer or at risk for developing the disease.  Last week we joined our coalition partners in Albany for an Affordable Care Act birthday party and press event, celebrating the achievements of the new law.  "As a direct result of the health care bill that Congress passed last year, we are able to have 95% of our employees covered by health insurance," said Matt Grove, Owner of the Bagel Grove in Utica.  "For a small business in the food industry, this is extraordinary and only made possible by the tax credit available to small employers. Offering health insurance helps to keep good employees and helps to keep good employees healthy."  Sherry Tomasky participated in singing the law's praises, and in warning of the hard work ahead in ensuring that future provisions are implemented in a way that will maximize their benefit for New York consumers, including cancer patients.

Perhaps the most critical upcoming provision of the Affordable Care Act is one that creates state health benefit exchanges, a central marketplace for people to compare and buy insurance plans in the individual or small-group markets, beginning in 2014.  If implemented correctly, state exchanges will create an online marketplace where consumers can shop for affordable, adequate coverage options and select among plans that cannot discriminate based on one’s health history.  In an effort to ensure that the exchanges work as well as possible for people with cancer and their families, ACS CAN this month released a guide to help evaluate various state health benefit exchange proposals. View the guide. 

In both states we are already beginning to weigh-in in a variety of ways to shape exchange legislation.  As just one example, earlier this month Jennifer Sullivan participated in a forum designed to gather input into the design of exchange legislation in New Jersey.  Sponsored by the state's Work Group on the Affordable Care Act and the Rutgers University Center for State Health Policy, the forum focused on the implementation plans for one or more health insurance exchanges in the state. Feedback gathered will inform the state's planning of the exchange(s), and the forum was a tremendous opportunity for the American Cancer Society to publicly advocate that any exchanges created be affordable, easy to access, and provide comprehensive benefits for cancer patients and their families.

FDA Advisory Committee: Removal of Menthol Cigarettes Would Benefit Public Health
Finding that the availability of menthol cigarettes increases the number of children and African Americans who smoke, the Food and Drug Administration’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee last week concluded, “Removal of menthol cigarettes from the marketplace would benefit public health in the United States.”  We strongly support the committee’s findings and conclusions, which are based on an exhaustive review of the scientific evidence regarding the public health impact of menthol cigarettes, and we are urging the FDA to implement the committee’s recommendation in a way that maximizes the public health benefits.  The committee based its recommendation on findings that menthol cigarettes increase the number of children who experiment with cigarettes and the number of children who become regular smokers, increasing overall youth smoking.  Read our comments to the FDA regarding menthol.

New York Budget
A budget deal has been reached in New York and it's not good.  Tuesday we learned that despite our best efforts, New York's Tobacco Control Program will be receiving a $17 million cut in this year's budget. This brings total program funding down to $41.4 million, less than half of what the program received in 2007-08, a move that will surely weaken the program's ability to help adult smokers quit and prevent youth from starting.  We want to thank all of the staff in New York for their herculean efforts in generating calls and emails to the legislature - without that pressure, the situation could have been even worse.  On a more positive note, the state's Cancer Services Program was held virtually harmless, with just a $650,000 cut in funding which we are told will not come from clinical services.

New Jersey Budget
Your advocacy team in New Jersey, along with key volunteers, testified before the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees at public hearings this month on our top state budget priorities.  Testimony was offered advocating for the legislature to retain state funding for the NJ CEED program, and for the state's Comprehensive Cancer Plan.  In addition, the legislature was urged to restore state funding for New Jersey's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, which was virtually eliminated in the current year's budget.  Thanks to Sr. Maggie Lopez for organizing the testimony, and to Jason Plaia for representing the Society before the Assembly Budget Committee.  The New Jersey state budget for fiscal year 2012 must be adopted by July 1.  We will keep you apprised on developments and how you can help. 

Sandi and Marge (and staff) go to New Orleans
Next month, Sandi Cassese and Marge Scanny, our New York and New Jersey State Lead Ambassadors, will join their counterparts from across the country in a weekend long summit in New Orleans, an annual opportunity to learn new skills, share best practices, and plan for the year ahead.   This year's summit will include an opportunity to visit the New Orleans Hope Lodge, and to view a Celebrate with Action demonstration event.   This demo event will serve as a visual model for planning our own Eastern Division Celebrate with Action events in September.   Attendees will also talk about the Affordable Care Act, how it is being implemented, and the challenges ahead.  We look forward to sharing in their learnings upon their return. 
-------------
 
Please don't hesitate to contact any member of our advocacy team if you have questions or would like additional information about any of the above.  We also are posting more frequent updates on Advocacy issues and campaigns at www.fightcancer.org/newyork and www.fightcancer.org/newjersey.