WASHINGTON, D.C. -- May 10, 2006 -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) today cautioned the U.S. Senate that the Health Insurance Market Modernization and Affordability Act (S. 1955) is fatally flawed and cannot be fixed.
The organization released a letter sent to senators today warning that the bill would remain unacceptable with a possible amendment to protect insurance guarantees in place in at least 26 states. The amendment, which reportedly will be offered by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), would still undermine critical state benefit protections such as colon cancer screenings, participation in clinical trials and other cancer screenings and treatments. The Senate is currently debating the bill and a vote is expected to take place later this week.
“While we sincerely appreciate efforts to mitigate the damage this bill would cause, such amendments do not fully redress the flaws in the legislation and consumers would still be at risk of losing important cancer-related protections such as guaranteed insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screenings and clinical trial participation,” wrote Daniel E. Smith, ACS CAN’s national vice president of government relations, and Wendy K.D. Selig, vice president of legislative affairs. “S. 1955 in any form, is not a silver bullet to solve the problem of the uninsured.”
Cancer advocates nationwide have been voicing their opposition to the bill. In the past two weeks, cancer advocates have sent more than 153,500 emails and placed more than 8,000 calls to Senate offices to express their concerns about losing coverage guarantees for cancer screenings and treatments.
In addition, ACS CAN is continuing its “Red Bra” ad campaign with ads running today in five states. The ad features a red bra and the proclamation “Don’t Let the U.S. Senate Leave Women Exposed.” The ad goes on to say “Mammograms save lives. Help us save mammograms.”
Last week the organization ran ads in 11 states and Washington, D.C. It also declared a week of action against the legislation, holding events across the country.
The text of the letter to the U.S. Senate follows:
May 10, 2006
Dear Senator,
We write today on behalf of the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) to once again express our strong opposition to S. 1955, the Health Insurance Market Modernization and Affordability Act of 2005. It is our view that the basic construct of this legislation is fatally flawed and therefore we ask you to oppose it regardless of any amendment process on the Senate floor.
It has been reported that a Senator may offer an amendment that would protect insurance guarantees in place in 26 states. While we sincerely appreciate efforts to mitigate the damage this bill would cause, such amendments do not fully redress the flaws in the legislation and consumers would still be at risk of losing important cancer-related protections such as guaranteed insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screenings and clinical trial participation.
All state-required patient protections, not just those related to cancer screenings and care, are important. They are crucial to public health as whole, safeguarding access to a whole array of vital benefits. While we support the noble goal of increased access to health insurance, jeopardizing currently afforded protections for cancer care and other life saving health screenings, is not an acceptable solution. Furthermore, it is our view that S. 1955 will not result in increased access to quality care for most people. S. 1955, in any form, is not a silver bullet to solve the problem of the uninsured.
As an alternative, ACS CAN does support S. 2510, the Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act, as a way to increase access to health insurance without sacrificing state-enacted protections. Should it come before the Senate as an amendment to S. 1955, we encourage your support for this legislation as a way to lower the cost of health insurance without jeopardizing crucial patient protections already in place.
Thank you for taking cancer patients and their families, along with all Americans at risk of cancer, into consideration in making your decision on S. 1955. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us or Jaimie Vickery, Senior Federal Representative (202-661-5720).
Daniel E. Smith Wendy K. D. Selig
National Vice President Vice President
Federal and State Government Relations Legislative Affairs
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society. ACS CAN is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem through voter education and issue campaigns aimed at influencing candidates and lawmakers to support laws and policies that will help people fight cancer. ACS CAN does not endorse candidates and is not a political action committee (PAC). For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Trista Hargrove
Phone: (202) 585-3221
Email: [email protected]