WASHINGTON -- March 21, 2010 -- In an historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives tonight approved health care reform legislation that includes several provisions that would help to reduce suffering and death from cancer in this country.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, analyzed the legislation through the eyes of cancer patients, survivors and their families. In a letter sent to House leaders Friday, ACS CAN said it believes the bill's provisions "will make far-reaching improvements to the nation’s health care system that will benefit millions of Americans."
"Families affected by cancer know first-hand the gaps that exist in our broken 'sick care' system," said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of ACS CAN. "Though the fight for health care reform has not been easy, we've come too far and accomplished too much to let this effort fail."
ACS CAN's analysis of the legislation concludes that it would improve access to health care by ensuring the availability of adequate and affordable insurance coverage to nearly all Americans. Critical reforms would specifically eliminate discrimination based on health status and preexisting conditions, and abolish arbitrary limits on annual and lifetime benefits, which have been so detrimental to cancer patients over the years.
The bill also would help to transform the health care system to focus more on prevention and early detection by requiring all insurance plans to provide coverage for essential, evidence-based preventive measures with no additional co-pays. ACS CAN also believes the bill would go a long way toward reducing the disparities in prevention and treatment of cancer among low-income and minority populations through the expansion of Medicaid and inclusion of tax subsidies.
"The status quo is a costly proposition for cancer patients and their families who have been forced to delay or, worse, forgo livesaving screenings and treatments," said Robert E. Youle, a cancer survivor and volunteer chair of ACS CAN's Board of Directors. "We need elected officials to put patients before politics and work to guarantee access to affordable, adequate care for all Americans."
Last week, cancer advocates delivered more than 56,000 signed petitions to their Members of Congress, urging lawmakers from both political parties to seize this historic opportunity and pass meaningful health reform.
For more information about ACS CAN’s efforts in support of health care reform, visit https://www.fightcancer.org.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
For More Information, Contact:
Steven Weiss or Alissa Havens
Phone: 202-276-8772 or 202-905-1300
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
