November Monthly Advocacy Update

 

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT UPDATE

For more information, visit http://fightcancer.org/healthcare.

 

Consumer Brochure Now in Print 

 

A few weeks ago I informed you about a new consumer-friendly guide, created by the Society with help from ACS CAN, that describes how provisions of the Affordable Care Act help people with cancer and their families.

 

The guide, which also discusses provisions of the law as they apply to the Society’s original “4 A’s” that define meaningful health coverage – adequacy, affordability, availability, and administrative simplicity – is part of ACS CAN’s and the Society’s continuing efforts to educate the public about the law and its benefits for cancer patients, survivors, and their families. It is intended for broad distribution to numerous internal and external audiences. Please share the booklets and the electronic version with staff, volunteers, and others who have an interest in learning more about the Affordable Care Act.

 

 

ACS CAN Senior Director and Volunteer Testify About “Mini-Med” Policies

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing on December 1 on limited-benefit health plans, also known as “mini-med” policies. Steve Finan, ACS CAN’s senior director of policy, and ACS CAN volunteer Eugene Melville of Riverside, California testified before the committee, along with four other witnesses, including an executive from the McDonald’s Corporation, which offers its hourly workers mini-med health plans. 

 

Mr. Melville called the Society’s Health Information Assistance Service (HIAS) after he was diagnosed with oral cancer. He eventually learned that his health insurance policy had an annual benefit limit of $2,000 for doctor’s visits and out-patient treatments, and a $20,000 annual limit on hospitalizations that includes limits on coverage for services such as lab tests, surgical supplies and medications to $2,000 annually.  Mr. Melville put a human face on this important issue, and provided the committee members with a clear example of how mini-med health insurance policies are impacting individuals who have serious diseases like cancer.

 

Steve’s testimony included examples of how cancer patients and survivors with inadequate insurance face barriers and financial burdens in getting the quality heath care they need to fight their disease. Steve also presented data from an ACS CAN nationwide poll that concluded that more than a third of cancer patients and survivors under age 65 reported problems with insurance coverage of cancer treatment such as the plan not paying for care or less than expected, reaching the limit of what the plan would pay, or delaying treatment because of insurance issues. ACS CAN  press statement, which includes a link to Steve’s testimony. 

 

Medical Loss Ratios (MLR)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an interim final rule on November 22 detailing how health insurers should calculate and define their plans’ medical loss ratio (MLR), the percentage of premiums spent on benefits versus administrative costs, under the Affordable Care Act. Beginning in 2011, the new law requires individual and small-group plans to have an MLR of at least 80 percent, and large-group plans to have an MLR of at least 85 percent. ACS CAN urged that the regulation carefully define MLR to ensure that as much spending as possible by insurers goes to services intended to improve patient health rather than to company profits and administrative expenses. Read the ACS CAN press statement,

 

Primary Care Workforce

Also on November 22, HHS announced a new application cycle for a National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program for clinicians who serve medically underserved areas. This year the program includes a $290 million investment made available by the Affordable Care Act to address shortages in the primary health care workforce, which will translate into greater access to care.

 

Draft Guidance Issued on Waivers from Annual Limits Requirements

HHS issued draft guidance on insurance plan requests for waivers from annual limits on November 5. The guidance represents a small but important victory for consumers. Under a regulation issued in June, all plans must have a minimum annual limit of at least $750,000. However, if compliance with the interim final regulations were to result in a significant decrease in access to benefits or a significant increase in premiums, the plan could request a waiver. To date, there have been approximately 30 requests for waivers, but many more expected because so many plans have low annual limits (reportedly as low as $2,000).

 

ACS CAN believes that in some cases waivers may be necessary and appropriate as the insurance system transitions to one that is more adequate and affordable for patients. Clearly a health plan with very low limits is of virtually no value to a patient with cancer or any other serious medical condition. But until the new health exchanges and other reforms are fully in place in 2014, we do not want to see disruptions in the market that could cause people with coverage to lose it, even if the coverage is of very limited value.

 

At the urging of ACS CAN and other consumer-patient groups, HHS’ guidance stipulates that all enrollees be informed directly that their plan has a waiver, what the waiver is for, and why it was sought. This type of disclosure is enormously important in educating consumers about the limits of their current plans and what protections the new law offers.

 

CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS

To learn more, visit http://fightcancer.org/research.

 

Since the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, the federal government and the programs it supports have been funded under a Continuing Resolution (CR) which expired Friday, December 3.  On December 4, President Obama signed an extension of the CR that runs through December 18.

 

In the meantime, the Senate is still maneuvering to overcome a potential filibuster and pass an omnibus spending bill that would fund the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year.  House Democrats will likely try to pass a year-long CR before Congress adjourns should the Senate be unable to pass an omnibus.

 

The potential impact of a year-long CR compared to an omnibus could be significant.  Currently, cancer research and prevention programs are poised to receive increases under an omnibus.  Whereas a CR would presumably fund these programs at last year’s spending level, eliminating any funding increase that might be provided through an omnibus.

 

FAMILY SMOKING PREVENTION AND TOBACCO CONTROL ACT

For more information, visit http://fightcancer.org/protectkids.

 

Federal health officials unveiled new graphic cigarette warning labels on November 10 that feature prominent graphics of diseased lungs, cancer patients and dead bodies covering 50 percent of the cigarette pack.

 

With an estimated 4,100 kids now picking up their first cigarette every day, and the majority of adult smokers starting as youth, these new graphic warning labels will help educate children and adults about the dangers of smoking immediately when they pick up a pack of cigarettes. Cigarette packaging has not changed in 25 years.

 

A provision of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, these new labels will appear on cigarette packs and advertisements beginning in 2012. Public comments on the proposed images are currently being gathered until January 2011. Read the ACS CAN statement.

 

TOBACCO TAXES

 

Anchorage Tax Increase

Congratulations to volunteers and staff in the Great West! After a short but intense campaign, the Anchorage Assembly voted eight to three to increase the city's tobacco tax. The 75-cent tax increase takes effect on January 1, 2011, putting the new total tax at $2.21. This is in addition to the $2 per pack state tax. In addition, the tax on other tobacco products in the city will rise from 45% to 55% of the wholesale price.

 

GREAT AMERICAN SMOKEOUT

To commemorate the 35th Great American Smokeout, ACS CAN engaged in a number of activities that call on state lawmakers to combat the country’s tobacco epidemic with strong policies that encourage youth and adults not to smoke. The Smokeout arrived one week after HHS released a new tobacco control strategy. Read the ACS CAN press release.

 

ACS CAN’s efforts included the release of a new report that shows that states are not doing all they can to help tackle tobacco use. The report, “A Broken Promise to Our Children: The 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 12 Years Later,” reveals that state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs is at its lowest levels since states began receiving tobacco settlement payments in 1999. ACS CAN, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation jointly issue the report. Read the press release and view the report webpage.

 

In addition, ACS CAN conducted a radio media to emphasize the importance of comprehensive tobacco control policies and promote ongoing smoke-free and tax campaigns. Volunteers also wrote letters to the editor.

 

CHILD NUTRITION BILL PASSES

On December 2 the House passed a bill to reauthorize child nutrition programs by a vote of 264-167. As you may recall, the bill passed the Senate in August and will now go to the President for his signature. 

 

Among other things, the bill will remove junk food from school vending machines and a la carte lines during school hours, improve nutrition standards for school meals, increase federal reimbursement rates paid for school meals, and promote farm-to-school programs to get locally grown nutritious foods into schools. Passage of this legislation will help fight the nation's obesity battle, starting with children and adolescents in school settings. Read the ACS CAN statement.

Read the ACS CAN statement.

 

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 REPORT

Also on December 2, HHS released its “Healthy People 2020”report, which spells out nearly 600 public health goals for the next decade. The goals include several areas of particular concern to people with cancer and their families: reducing overall deaths from cancer, curbing tobacco use by youth and adults, improving access to quality health care, decreasing obesity rates and improving nutrition and physical activity for all populations. The report also focuses on other issues important to the fight against cancer, including global health and quality of life. Read the ACS CAN statement.

 

 

Christopher W. Hansen

President

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)