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 [...]
NCCS Letter to CMS Highlights Concerns About Proposed Medicare Part B Reforms
On December 31st, NCCS submitted our final comment letter of the year to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the advance notice of proposed rulemaking for the Medicare Part B drug program.
In the letter, we outlined concerns that this proposal could have on Medicare beneficiaries such as impacts on patient access to innovative therapies, as well as concerns regarding the enormous scope of the test. NCCS suggested [...]
Remembering Jennifer Friar Groves
By CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso — I’d like to share the story of my dear friend, Jennifer Friar Groves, who died earlier this month at the age of 32 from metastatic breast cancer. She gave me her permission to share her story, and in fact, she desperately wanted her story to be shared. Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2016 at the age of 29. She lived in Booneville, Mississippi, in northern Mississippi near Tupelo. She was too young for regular [...]
NCCS “Not Persuaded” Drug Pricing in DTC Ads Will Improve Doctor-Patient Communication
Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would require information about drug costs be included in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements of prescription drugs and biological products. NCCS issued a statement regarding the proposal, saying, “While we understand [...]
NCCS Statement on District Court Ruling Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional
Silver Spring, M.D. – The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), a national organization representing survivors of all…
Remembering Kathryn West
Last weekend, the patient advocacy community lost a fierce advocate, leader, and innovator in raising awareness of the issues cancer survivors experience. Kathryn West, oncology nurse and fierce advocate for cancer patients, died of cancer herself in Los Angeles last Sunday. NCCS first met Kathryn through her role as Advocacy Director for Amgen. Her vision to increase awareness of resources for people affected by cancer led her to champion the [...]
NCCS Strongly Objects to New CMS Waiver Options That Seek to Further Undermine the ACA
NCCS issued the following statement regarding today’s announcement by the Trump administration outlining options states can pursue to circumvent the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Today’s announcement of these policy options follows previous Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance that outlined broad authority to the states to design their health care systems through a “waiver” of key ACA requirements and provides states [...]
NCCS Presents 3rd Annual Ellen L. Stovall Award to Gay Crawford and Dr. Norman Coleman, Their 40+ Year Careers Focused on Improving Patient-Centered Cancer Care
NCCS hosted the 3rd annual Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care reception. Named for former NCCS CEO, Ellen Stovall, who died in 2016 due to complications from three cancer treatments, the award seeks to highlight those who continue Ellen’s work of transforming cancer care to further incorporate patients’ goals, needs, and values. This year’s honorees are Gay Crawford, founding director of Cancer CAREpoint, and Dr. Norman Coleman, senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute. [...]
NCCS Webinar Video: “Understanding Fear of Cancer Recurrence”
Those with a cancer experience are all too familiar with the anxiety that many experience wondering and waiting if and how cancer…
Patient and Consumer Groups Urge Federal Court to Issue Preliminary Injunction Against Short-Term Insurance Rule
U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon is expected to hear oral arguments today in Washington, D.C., from groups challenging a rule implementing changes to short-term, limited-duration (STLD) insurance plans. The hearing in the case Association for Community Affiliated Plans v. United States Department of Treasury will allow the plaintiffs to explain the devastating impact patients could face under the rule if bare-bones plans that do not comply [...]
Coalition, Including NCCS, Urges CMS to Withdraw Guidance Threatening Millions of Americans Who Have Pre-Existing Conditions
More than 25 patient and consumer groups representing millions of people nationwide with pre-existing health conditions issued the following statement in response to administration guidance issued on October 22nd that gives states greater ability to skirt patient protections included in the Affordable Care Act: “The guidance issued by the Administration gives states free reign to undermine critical protections for millions of Americans living with pre-existing conditions [...]