Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors
Cancer survivors have expressed concerns and questions about COVID-19, the coronavirus, and how they may be at higher risk due to their cancer history. Here are some resources about COVID-19 generally, and its impact for cancer survivors specifically. NCCS is seeking answers from public health experts on the coronavirus and its impact on cancer patients and survivors. Please leave a comment [...]
WCOE: Health Care Access and Affordability; FDA’s Plans to Better Incorporate Patient Voice in Drug Development; Patient Portal Pitfalls; and More
What Caught Our Eye (WCOE) is our week-in-review blog series, where we recap the cancer policy articles, studies, and stories that caught our attention. — “Why Some Americans Are Risking It and Skipping Health Insurance” — In tiny Marion, North Carolina, the Buchanans decided that $1,800 a month was too much to pay for health insurance, and are going without it for the first time in their lives. [...]
Patient Assistance Programs: Do They Help or Hurt?
By Rishi Sachdev and Yousuf Zafar, MD — New cancer drugs have improved prognoses for patients, but that improvement in effectiveness has come at a steep cost. The price tag of new anticancer drugs has been increasing at a significant pace, with the latest—Kymriah by Novartis—priced at $475,000 per treatment. These ever-increasing costs result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, which have been shown to worsen outcomes. [...]
ACA Update March 23, 2018 | Congress Passes Spending Bill, Leaves Out ACA Market Stabilization
The spending bill, known as the omnibus, passed – but the push for ACA stabilization was not included. Beginning last summer, Senators Alexander and Murray were working on a bipartisan package that would aim to stabilize the ACA through cost-sharing reduction payments, outreach funding and reinsurance funding. In early December, Senator Collins pledged her vote on the Republican tax bill in exchange for ACA stabilization funding. [...]
WCOE: No Action on ACA Stabilization Bill; ‘Black Cancer Matters’; Risks of At-Home Genetic Testing; Hospital Payment Reform; and More
What Caught Our Eye (WCOE), is our week-in-review blog series. “Health insurers say the GOP-led Congress’ inaction on ACA stabilization legislation is sure to hurt consumers” Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com — After months of negotiating around an ACA stabilization package that was set to be included in this week’s spending bill, no agreement was made and the stabilization provisions were left out of the spending package all together. [...]
NCCS Joins Cancer Leadership Council to Oppose the Latest Version of Right to Try Act
NCCS joined the Cancer Leadership Council to express serious reservations about the latest version of the Trickett Wendler, Frank…
WCOE: HHS Hints at Lax ACA Regulation; Burden of High Drug Costs; FDA’s Gottlieb Blasts ‘Rigged Payment Scheme’; Home BRCA Testing; More
What Caught Our Eye is our week-in-review blog series, where we recap the cancer policy articles, studies, and stories that caught our attention. – “Trump Administration Blocks Idaho’s Plan to Circumvent Health Law” –
While rejecting Idaho’s plan in its current form, Ms. Verma encouraged the state to keep trying, and she suggested that, “with certain modifications,” its proposal might be accepted. [...]
ACA Update March 9, 2018 | HHS Says ‘Not Quite’ to Idaho’s Illegal Health Plans, Supports Expansion of Skinny Short-Term Coverage
As we reported recently, Idaho regulators announced they would allow the sale of insurance plans that don’t adhere to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirements and patient protections. Blue Cross of Idaho was planning to sell insurance plans that are priced based on applicants’ health status. But in a decision announced in a letter to Idaho’s governor yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) said that the administration [...]
Reps. DeSaulnier and Poe Introduce Bipartisan “Cancer Care Planning and Communications Act”
Advocated for by NCCS, the bill would increase comprehensive cancer care planning for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. Washington,…
NCCS Letter to DOL: Proposed Association Health Plans Rule “Will Increase Costs for Cancer Survivors and Others with Significant Health Needs”
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) submitted comments on the proposed rule on Association Health Plans (AHPs)…
NCCS Joins Letter Expressing “Serious Reservations” About “Right to Try” Legislation
NCCS joined with colleagues in the Cancer Leadership Council to express serious reservations about proposed “right to try” legislation…