One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a broad coalition of cancer-related organizations representing millions of Americans, held a special event in Washington, D.C. on June 16-17, 2010. The event included one day of advocate training and one day of visits with Congressional representatives.
The purpose of the visits was two-fold. First, OVAC is raising awareness for the need for more cancer research. Secondly, OVAC advocates are asking Congress to at least sustain the current levels of federal support for cancer research through a number of federal programs. Unfortunately, cancer funding for FY2011 is not a sure bet due to mounting pressure from the Administration and Congress to freeze or reduce spending on critical items.
OVAC and Preventing Colorectal Cancer.Org (PCC) are asking that you write your Congressional representative to ask that cancer research funding does not get reduced, or even cut, next year.
Here are some of the programs that OVAC is recommending that should be funded in FY 2011:
- ♦$35.2 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes $5.8 billion for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and $240 million for the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
- ♦$601 million for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- ♦Funding for the Health Resource and Service Administration (HRSA) which includes: $267.3million to support Title VIII Nursing Programs and $18.6 million to support the Patient Navigator Program
- ♦$495 million increase for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to further coordinate and integrate cancer research from early stage discovery to the front lines.
Among other resources, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) spearhead important initiatives for national cancer research activities in the United States and abroad. Many advances over the past decade in the treatment of cancer are directly attributable to NIH and NCI sponsored studies and related research grants.
OVAC advocates recognize that despite the successes and progress in cancer detection and treatment in recent years, the incidence of cancer is projected to nearly double by 2020- particularly among the baby boomer population. This looming cancer crisis is a call to action.
After spending the day on Capitol Hill with OVAC, it became clear that cancer funding cannot be taken for granted during the next federal budgeting cycle. For example, one Congressional staffer remarked, "Budgets are choices and choices are values. It's really important that citizens and advocates make their values clear to their representatives and express how they would like to see them appropriate the Senate Labor-HHS-Education FY2011 budget."
Please make sure that you contact your Congressional representative, to let them know how important it is to fund the federal agencies referenced above. To locate your representatives, www.congress.org offers a helpful resource (go to the bottom of the page to locate the appropriate directory).
The March 17, 2010, issue briefing in the Cannon House Office Building was truly remarkable. Representative Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), pictured, spoke about her House Resolution (HR 1053) which raises awareness of colon cancer in women. Also, Theresa Vawter the health legislative assistant from the Office of Kay Granger (R-TX) presented facts related to HR 1189, the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment Act. Dr. Morris from C3 served as moderator for the panel which presented the importance of screenings, and the barriers that many face in receiving these lifesaving services.
I want to thank the Coalition for publishing the issue brief addressing safety protocols for administering propofol and similar anesthetic agents during colonoscopy screenings. I found it to be very insightful. Thank you.
Evidence-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening
Having become familiar with colorectal cancer screening issues over the past year, the need for evidence-based guidelines and sound reimbursement policies, in my opinion, are more important than ever. It has been surprising to me how some screening and reimbursement policies are driven by ad hoc data or economic interests that don’t always focus on the patient’s best interests. Colorectal cancer still is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Health plans and other payers need to promote a multi-tiered approach to preventing colorectal cancer. With emerging screening and care options, it is important to establish evidence-based protocols to establish the appropriateness of any particular intervention. Having read several peer-reviewed journal articles recently on sedation options for patients who are getting screened, I have been taken aback by some stakeholder groups that do not always appear to put patient-safety concerns first. By working together and for the common good, we can literally save thousands of patients’ lives as new screening and treatment options are made available. However, in the same vein, we need to be careful not to jump on the latest fad. Establishing evidence-based approaches are an important first step. Supporting appropriate, timely and consistent reimbursement policies is also essential – along with keeping patients’ educated on their ever-changing screening and treatment options. Please contact Preventing Colorectal Cancer.Org to see how you can get involved in promoting a fair public policy debate that creates sound coverage policies.
Garry Carneal, JD, MA
PCC Board Member