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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 [...]
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Health Care Roundup: ACA Anniversary Met with a Challenge; Coronavirus Coverage; and More
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a third major challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The court did not say when it would hear the case, but arguments are likely to begin this fall, with a decision in the spring or summer of 2021. Read Vox’s primer to learn about the entire case and what is expected to happen next. The ACA has been the law of the land for ten years now. NCCS celebrated this milestone with other patient advocacy [...]
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Health Care Roundup: “Surprise” Billing and ACA Updates; NCCS on Fear of Cancer Recurrence; Study on Long-Term Young Survivors; End-of-Life Care; More
How Should Patients Be Protected From “Surprise” Medical Bills? The Latest: Democratic and Republican House staffers met with Speaker Pelosi’s office to try to protect patients from getting large “surprise” medical bills. There was no breakthrough, according to The Hill. The Issue: Patients can receive extremely high medical bills during emergency situations when they are taken to an out-of-network hospital, or from out-of-network providers, even [...]
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Health Care Roundup: New Surprise Billing Proposal; When a Young Adult Has Cancer; Breakthrough Immune Cell Discovery; NCCS Project Webinar; More
NCCS joined with other patient groups in an amicus brief (a friend of the court brief) this week to challenge the administration’s October 2019 proclamation that would prevent immigrants from entering the U.S. if they cannot show they will be covered by approved health insurance within 30 days of entering the U.S. The proclamation would allow ACA-exempt, short-term limited duration insurance plans which, as we have reported, do not provide [...]
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Webinar Video – Redefining Functional Status: A Patient-Led Quality Measurement Effort
"What would health care measurement look like if it reflected what patients and caregivers say matters most to them?" Quality measurement in cancer care is primarily focused on ensuring patients get the right tests and treatments, not whether those treatments help cancer survivors live well during and after cancer. NCCS embarked on an initiative to define quality measures by engaging survivors themselves to identify what’s important to measure. [...]
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NCCS Expresses Opposition to CMS Healthy Adult Opportunity Guidance Permitting Medicaid Block Grants
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) earlier today announced a guidance to state Medicaid programs that encourages states to create a block grant program for the portion of their Medicaid program expanded under the Affordable Care Act. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) opposes the CMS action to permit Medicaid block grants because of their potential negative impact on people with cancer. NCCS issued the statement below [...]
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Health Care Roundup: SCOTUS Prolongs ACA Lawsuit Review; Coping with Isolation; Medicaid Block Grants; The Nursing Shortage; More
Supreme Court Will Not Consider ACA Lawsuit Until After 2020 Election – The Supreme Court announced on January 21 that it would not consider the ACA lawsuit on an expedited basis before the 2020 election. NCCS is disappointed in this decision but remains hopeful the Supreme Court will hear the case later this year. NCCS recently joined with other patient groups in an amicus brief to the Court asking them to fast-track consideration of whether [...]
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Health Care Roundup: ACA Lawsuit Update; Why Drug Importation Is Unlikely to Work; Annual Cancer Statistics; End-of-Life Care; A.I. in the O.R.; More
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Lawsuit Update – Before Christmas, the Fifth Circuit announced its ruling in the ACA lawsuit, Texas v. US. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 opinion, upheld the District Court ruling that the individual mandate is unconstitutional. However, the Fifth Circuit remanded the case back to the District Court for a more careful consideration of the issue of severability. In effect, the Fifth Circuit directed the District Court judge [...]
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NCCS Statement on ACA Lawsuit Ruling Issued by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) notes that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion in the case of Texas v. United States, a case challenging the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a 2-1 opinion, the Fifth Circuit upheld the decision of the District Court for the Northern District of Texas that found the ACA individual mandate unconstitutional. However, the appellate court remanded the case to the District Court for additional [...]
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NCCS Submits Comments to CMS on Oncology Care First Model
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) submitted comments in response to an Informal Request for Information on the proposed Oncology Care First Model. This model was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The comments focus on concerns regarding adequate resources in the model to support high quality cancer care. The letter also identifies shortcomings in the model that could influence [...]
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Health Care Roundup: Drug Pricing, “Surprise Billing” Bills Advance; “Rebuilding” After Diagnosis; Study on Depression in Lung Cancer Patients; More
House Members Solicit Public Input on "Cures 2.0" Bill – Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) released a request for public input on a potential new bill they are calling “Cures 2.0” which would build on the 21st Century Cures Act. The duo says this legislation would focus on improving patients' access to digital health products and new medical therapies. The bill would speed up insurance coverage by Medicare, Medicaid, [...]