Letter: Bill supports biomarker testing
This letter originally ran in the Lincoln Journal Star.
News
A Patient Voice in Health Care Reform
May 26, 2009
As the leading patient group in the health care debate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) continues to work to ensure that the voices of cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones are heard. This week, 15 cancer patients and their caregivers came to Washington, D.C., for a lobby day with a strong message for Congress: Health care reform is needed now, not later.
The cancer advocates had contacted the American Cancer Society’s Health Insurance Assistance Service (HIAS), and some of them were featured in the February report by the Society and the Kaiser Family Foundation titled, “Spending to Survive: Cancer Patients Confront Holes in the Health Care System.” They met with members of Congress and shared their personal experiences with the broken health care system. They also joined ACS CAN President Daniel E. Smith, members of Congress who have been touched by cancer, and other patients at a media event to highlight the urgent need for health care reform.
At the event, ACS CAN, which is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the Society, released a poll that shows one in four people who have been diagnosed with cancer delayed care in the past year due to costs. More than 40 percent of people with cancer or a history of cancer reported having had difficulty paying for health care costs in the past two years. Additionally, one in five reported using up all or most of their savings on health care.
No one should have to risk financial ruin to get the care they need to survive. Cancer advocates like those who visited Washington this week lend a powerful voice to the fight for health care reform that ensures access to care for all Americans, which is critical to achieving the Society’s mission of saving more lives from cancer. A video featuring two of the lobby day participants can be seen here.
As the health care reform debate intensifies, ACS CAN will make sure the voices of cancer patients, survivors, and loved ones are heard and will remain steadfast in its efforts to emphasize the importance of elevating prevention, guaranteeing access to quality coverage, and ensuring quality of life for all cancer patients and survivors in any health care reform legislation.
Finally, please join Dan Smith, Mid-South Division CEO Lisa Roth, and me on Friday, June 5, at 2:00 p.m. EDT for a live, town hall-style Webcast to learn more about the ACS CAN health care reform campaign. Additional details will be provided soon.
Thank you for your continued support of the mission-critical efforts of the Society and ACS CAN to expand access to quality health care.
John R. Seffrin, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society