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Congress yesterday took its final historic votes to repair the broken health care system, approving a package of improvements that strengthen the broad reform bill that President Obama signed into law this week. I had the privilege of being in Washington, D.C. with Society Board Chair George Atkins and National Volunteer President Alan Thorson to attend a celebration led by ... this effort successful.       By now you’ve heard about the critical role played by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in bringing the voice of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to the debate. I want to share an example of how ACS CAN’s efforts made ...

Federal Update   ACS CAN filed comments this week with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the proposed Medicare regulation creating Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs, which were mandated in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), are groups of providers that receive bonus payments for delivering more integrated and coordinated care for Medicare beneficiaries. ACS CAN’s comments acknowledge the potential of ACOs to improve the health and quality of care of cancer patients, and encourage the administration to improve the regulation to better benefit ...

... last week announced an agreement on a final 2011 fiscal year (FY 2011) Continuing Resolution (CR) that will fund the government through the end of September. The House of Representatives passed the CR this afternoon by a bi-partisan vote of 260-167. The Senate will vote later this evening, and the President has ... cancer screenings, tobacco cessation and community-based health programs dedicated to reversing the increasing problem of obesity. ACS CAN strongly opposes repeal of the fund. At this time, it is unclear whether the Senate will take up the measure. Read the ACS CAN press release ...

... on Deficit Reduction, better known as the "super committee," announced it was unable to devise a deficit reduction plan that a majority of the committee's members could support. Under the Budget Control Act, the legislation that created the super committee, automatic ... be.   Also important to keep in mind is that more than 50 percent of cancer patients rely on Medicare and Medicaid for their treatment. ACS CAN fought hard to prevent cuts and protect access to these programs. On that front, the lack of a super committee plan yielded a good outcome as ... 30­-plus percent of the Medicare population is thought to be obese. Under the Affordable Care Act, these services will be offered without cost sharing.   DRUG SHORTAGE The American Cancer Society and ACS CAN are closely monitoring the nation's drug shortage. The overall number of ...