affordable care act Archives - NCCS - National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Health Care Roundup: Cancer Care on the Front Lines of COVID-19; Study: Cancer Patients at Higher COVID-19 Risk; COVID-19 Cancer Disparities; More

May 1, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, COVID-19, Quality Cancer Care Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone. Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

If you have any cancer-related questions or concerns about COVID-19, please reach us at www.canceradvocacy.org/contact.

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

Policy Updates

Fourth Relief Package Passed

It’s hard enough to keep up with the day of the week, much less which relief package Congress is currently considering. We’re here to help make sense of what’s happening on Capitol Hill during these unpredictable times. Last week, Congress approved a fourth package totaling $480 billion to help small businesses and hospitals and expand testing for the coronavirus.

Cancer Survivors Have Higher Risks from COVID-19

Early this week, a study that compared cancer and non-cancer patients in China with covid-19 was published and presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting. While the study was small, the findings showed that cancer patients — especially those with blood or lung malignancies, or tumors that have spread throughout the body — have a higher risk of death or other severe complications from COVID-19 compared with those without cancer.

Supreme Court Ruling on Risk Corridor Case

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of insurers in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) risk corridors case. The ACA included so-called risk corridor payments to compensate insurers for the risks that they might bear from participating in the marketplaces without knowing who would purchase coverage. If medical costs exceeded the premiums collected, an insurer would be eligible for payments from the federal government. After Congress refused to appropriate the funds for the risk corridor payments, several insurers sued. Justice Sotomayor, writing for the majority, said that the government was bound by a simple principle of honoring its commitment as spelled out in the ACA. The insurers will receive the payments now. Health experts have already raised questions about how the payments will be distributed among insurers.

This #GivingTuesday, May 5, please consider making a gift to NCCS. Because of your support, we are able to allay fears, provide tools, share credible information, and support the wellbeing of survivors and their families during this time of crisis. Please support our COVID-19 emergency response and advocacy on behalf of cancer survivors this #GivingTuesday and beyond.

Make a Gift to NCCS »

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

NCCS Podcast: "Cancer Convos." NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso interviews Dr. Don Dizon, a medical oncologist who is chronicling his experience on the front lines of oncology during COVID-19 in a series for Medscape entitled COVID-19: Diary of an Oncologist. We talk with Dr. Dizon about the challenges of delivering cancer care and conducting clinical trials during a pandemic.

He shares his advice for cancer patients currently in treatment, as well as for cancer survivors coping with the stress and anxiety of life after cancer. We also talk about how he engages on social media and uses TikTok to create fun, educational messages. He also shares how virtual communities can provide support during challenging times.

Listen and Subscribe to Updates »
Listen to the Episode on SoundCloud »

Bipartisan Health Experts Send Letter to Congress

In an NPR interview, Scott Gottlieb, former head of the FDA, and Andy Slavitt, who led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid under Obama, talk about their plan to reopen the U.S.

CHART OF THE WEEK

A New Common Cause of Death

Business Insider

Business Insider compiled data from the COVID Tracking Project, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the US Census Bureau to show how COVID-19 deaths over time compare with other common causes of death in the US: heart disease, cancer, bad flu seasons, and car crashes.

WHAT WE’RE READING

How to Think About Your Cancer Care

TIME

Dr. Esserman gives advice on what options are available to cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said, “Don’t panic…There is time to learn about your options and sort out what is right for you.”

When Disparities Widen: COVID-19 in Minority Patients with Cancer
Cancer Letter

Doctors Olazagasti and Duma discuss disparities in COVID-19 patients with cancer. They say that the popular statement, “we are all on the same boat,” isn’t true for many Americans.

“Not all of us have the same means when it comes to facing this pandemic. Some are in yachts, others in sailboats, and some can find themselves in river rafts.”

U.S. Medical Testing, Cancer Screenings Plunge During Coronavirus Outbreak

Reuters

“Routine medical tests critical for detecting and monitoring cancer and other conditions plummeted in the United States since mid-March, as the coronavirus spread and public officials urged residents to stay home, according to a new report by Komodo Health.”

More COVID-19 Information

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Health Care Roundup: NCCS COVID-19 Webinars & Podcast; Paid Leave for Vulnerable Patients; Resources for Finding Coverage; “Chemo Brain” Study; More

April 17, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, COVID-19, Quality Cancer Care Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone. Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

If you have any cancer-related questions or concerns about COVID-19, please reach us at www.canceradvocacy.org/contact.

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

NCCS Launches Webinar and Podcast Series

NCCS has been working diligently to bring you the most up-to-date and critical information for cancer survivors regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Conversation with Otis Brawley, MD

Last week, we hosted a webinar with one of the nation’s leading oncology experts, Dr. Otis Brawley. In this webinar, he outlined how this public health crisis is impacting cancer patients and survivors and what they can do to stay safe.
Video and Transcript: A Conversation with Otis Brawley, MD »

“This is a really difficult time. My recommendation to anyone who has cancer or anyone who lives with someone who has cancer is to stay indoors, stay away from other people, do all the things that we’ve been talking about: hand-washing, avoid people by six feet if you have to go out.”

New NCCS Podcast "Cancer Convos." This conversation is also the first episode of our brand new podcast "Cancer Convos: Survivorship. Advocacy. Policy." Subscribe and Listen here »

COVID-19 and Cancer: Managing Stress, Anxiety, & Grief

Yesterday, we hosted a webinar on managing anxiety, stress, and grief with psychologist Dr. Imani Price and a panel of cancer survivors and advocates.

Dr. Price shared tips on how to cope with stress during this unique time, including strategies such as connecting with friends and family virtually, taking time to get outside each day, getting sufficient sleep, and eating well.

The cancer survivors on the panel shared their struggles and advice for coping with the isolation and fear that many cancer survivors are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch the video of the discussion. »

Because of you, we are able to allay fears, provide tools, share credible information, and support the wellbeing of survivors and their families during this time of crisis. Donate today to support our COVID-19 emergency response and advocacy on behalf of cancer survivors.

Make a Gift to NCCS »

Policy Update

In addition to curating resources and content for cancer survivors during this trying time, we also continue to make sure the voices and patients are heard in public policy efforts.

NCCS joined with other patient advocacy organizations in a letter to Congressional leadership that outlined some key priorities that address barriers to patient access to care and coverage during the current public health crisis. Those priorities include special enrollment periods and changes to the marketplace to address barriers, and disruptions in clinical trials. Read the letter »

NCCS also joined in a letter urging Congress to expand eligibility for the paid family and medical leave program to include Americans who are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic – such as cancer survivors and their caregivers. Expanded paid leave is needed to ensure that individuals at high risk for adverse complications from COVID-19 and working members of their households can remain home for the duration of this crisis. Read the letter »

See the legislative alert below, which outlines how to take action and how to reach out to your Members of Congress to ask them to act now:

Legislative Alert: Tell Congress to Expand Paid Leave for People With Chronic Heath Conditions

NCCS is here to help. Use the links below to call or email your Members of Congress, or contact Lindsay Houff and we are happy to help you.

Sample script for calling or emailing your legislators:

Subject: Expand Paid Leave for People with Chronic Conditions During COVID-19

Dear [Legislator title, name],

We appreciate the expansion of emergency use of the Family and Medical Leave Act that was recently passed by Congress. I am writing to ask that it include cancer survivors, who may require time away from work due to the risk COVID-19 poses to their health or health of a loved one. Right now, cancer survivors are not included in individuals who are eligible for FMLA paid leave.

Because of their history of cancer and cancer treatment, cancer survivors may have weakened immune systems which can then lead to a reduced ability to fight off infections. Cancer survivors may be at higher risk of health complications from COVID-19, and may experience more serious COVID-19 infection if they acquire it.

As a constituent, I urge you to expand eligibility for the paid family and medical leave program to protect Americans who are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name and Address]

CHART OF THE WEEK

NCCS CPAT advocate Randy Broad sent this chart to us and we thought you’d get a kick out of too!

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

NCCS Podcast: "Cancer Convos." We’re excited to launch our brand new podcast: "Cancer Convos: Survivorship. Advocacy. Policy." The first episode features our conversation with Otis Brawley, MD about cancer and COVID-19, and was released this week.

Listen and Subscribe to Updates »

WHAT WE’RE READING

Resources About Loss of Health Coverage

This blog on COVID-19 by Karen Pollitz at Kaiser Family Foundation outlines what you can do about losing health coverage during this crisis.

For information about transitioning from job based coverage to other forms of coverage (including Medicaid and COBRA), see these resources:

For information on Special Enrollment Periods, see here:

Enroll in or change 2020 plans — only with a Special Enrollment Period

For updated guidance on grace periods for binder and premium payments see here:

Payment and Grace Period Flexibilities Associated with the COVID-19 National Emergency

Chemo-Brain: Women on hormone therapy also report cognitive decline

eCancer

The Journal of Clinical Oncology released new data from the TAILORx study that reported cognitive decline from chemotherapy and hormone therapy in the initial three to six months of treatment. The cognitive decline leveled off at 12 and 36 months and did not return to pre-treatment levels. While cognitive decline is often thought to be associated with chemotherapy, the study found the decline was comparable between two groups of patients, one treated with chemotherapy and one treated with hormone therapy.

"I think we've generally assumed that cognitive impairment is due to chemotherapy. Our findings tell us that hormone therapy may also play a role. Future research is needed to understand better how hormone therapy affects cognition in the context of cancer treatment and also how to treat this symptom… Finding that long-term cognitive impairments were comparable between groups confirms we can retire the term 'chemo-brain' as it does not accurately describe the whole picture"

— Lynne I. Wagner, PhD, Wake Forest University

NCCS Joins 28 Patient and Consumer Groups Urging the Administration to Implement a Special Enrollment Period for Healthcare.gov

April 1, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog, NCCS News Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, COVID-19, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Pre-Existing Conditions, Quality Cancer Care NCCS News /by actualize

The Trump administration decided against opening a special enrollment period for Healthcare.gov, which would allow uninsured individuals to purchase plans outside of the open enrollment period.

NCCS joined with 28 patient and consumer groups to urge the administration to implement a special enrollment period as the nation fights to protect its citizens from the COVID-19 virus. The Affordable Care Act does allow for people who have lost employer-sponsored health insurance to enroll, which is important to the nearly 10 million people who filed unemployment claims in March.

An excerpt from the statement:

As research shows again and again, access to comprehensive health insurance means access to timely, medically-necessary health care. If someone without health insurance today contracts the COVID-19 virus, they may be forced to make the difficult decision to not be tested and treated due to fears about the cost of care. That puts our entire society – particularly the people with that we represent – at risk. All Americans need immediate, reliable access to quality, affordable health insurance.

Read the Full Statement

Download the Statement »

# # #

Health Care Roundup: ACA Anniversary Met with a Challenge; Coronavirus Coverage; and More

March 6, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Pre-Existing Conditions NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone.Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

ACA: The Affordable Care Act Reaches 10-Year Milestone and Will Be Challenged Again

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 groups by participating in briefings on Capitol Hill yesterday. The ACA has provided health coverage to millions more people through exchanges and expanded Medicaid and allowed young adults to remain on their parents’ health plans until age 26. The ACA’s patient protections are essential to cancer patients, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions, essential health benefits, out-of-pocket maximums, and the elimination of annual and lifetime limits, to name a few.

Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Now in Effect

The House and Senate both passed emergency funding bills this week, which President Trump signed this morning, to aid in combatting the virus. The total package is approximately $8.3 billion, which is more than three times the original emergency request from the President.

Politico's Caitlin Emma reported about the package:

The legislation will bolster vaccine development, research and equipment stockpiles, as well as boost state and local health budgets, as government officials and health workers fight to contain the outbreak. More than $400 million will be disbursed to states within the first 30 days of the bill’s enactment, with each state receiving no less than $4 million.

WHAT WE’RE READING

Half of New Colon and Rectal Cancer Diagnoses Are Now in People Age 66 and Younger, Report Finds

CNN

Colon and rectal cancer cases are rising in young adults, according to the American Cancer Society's new report, "Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2020."

Scientists are surprised by how fast the rising incidence of colorectal cancer is in younger age groups.

"This report is very important because it not only provides a snapshot of the current colorectal cancer burden, but also a window to the future," said Rebecca Siegal, study co-author and scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, as reported by CNN.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States.

A Young Cancer Patient Found an Exercise Bike Helped Him Endure Chemotherapy. Now He Wants Others to Have the Same Chance.

The Washington Post

Mathew Simon discovered exercising during chemotherapy made him feel less fatigued when he rode a virtual reality bike daily in his hospital room. He felt like he was helping himself stay healthy. That's why he started an organization to place virtual reality bikes on adolescent and young adult oncology floors in hospitals nationwide.

Waive Fees for Coronavirus Tests and Treatment, Health Experts Urge

The New York Times

New York is among the first states in the country to waive some costs for people who undergo testing for the coronavirus, as reported by The New York Times. The federal government is also considering paying for care for those affected.

The health insurance system “is designed to make you think twice to seek care every time you get a runny nose, fever and cough,” said John Graves, a health policy expert at Vanderbilt University.

Even though identifying people with the virus in the early stages is critical to preventing a spread of the disease, Dr. Graves said, many people are likely to wait out any symptoms to avoid expensive care.

On behalf of NCCS, we urge you to be vigilant with your health needs.

Coronavirus 2019: What People with Cancer Need to Know »

CHART OF THE WEEK

The Role of Health Care in the 2020 Election

Kaiser Family Foundation

Check out the latest Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll, which finds health care among the top issues for all voters, as well as the crucial group of voters who have not yet made up their minds about whom to vote for in 2020.

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

February 21, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Financial Toxicity, Health Equity, Palliative Care, Pre-Existing Conditions, Quality Cancer Care Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone.Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

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 at an in-network facility or hospital. There is consensus about the problem, but not about the solution. Journalist and physician Elisabeth Rosenthal outlines in the New York Times the biggest roadblock: the players in the health care industry are at war over “who gets to keep the fortunes generated each year from patient illness.”

Rosenthal adds:

“So today your hospital and doctor and insurer — all claiming to coordinate care for your health — are often in a three-way competition for your money… Major sectors of the health industry have helped to invent this toxic phenomenon, and none of them want to solve it if it means their particular income stream takes a hit. And they have allies in the capital.”

Meanwhile: "All sides agree that patients should be protected," according to The Hill. Yet, the leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee have very different solutions and have put forward rival bipartisan bills.

For now, patients are still unprotected from surprise billing.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Updates

Enrollment Experiment Yields Increases: California reinstated the individual mandate and expanded the ACA’s insurance subsidies in an experiment to see what happens when policymakers “beef up” the ACA. The result was a 41% increase in new enrollment.

Supreme Court Decisions Expected: Friend of NCCS and ACA expert, Katie Keith from Georgetown University, says the Supreme Court will issue at least two ACA-related decisions before July 2020. The issues — the risk corridors program and the religious or moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate — could have implications that extend beyond the ACA.

WHAT WE’RE READING

The Emotional Trauma of Fear of Cancer Recurrence

Healthline

NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso talked to Healthline.com about the fear of cancer recurrence.

“Sometimes [cancer survivors’] family and friends don’t understand the fear they live with. They think, ‘You’re done, everything is great.’ But the survivor always has that nagging thought in the back of their minds.”

NCCS CPAT advocates Jersi Baker and Liza Bernstein each shared their experience of facing multiple recurrences for the article.

Liza Bernstein: “The traumas of everything you go through, surgeries, toxic treatments, your life disrupted, your brain goes to, ‘I could go back to that or worse.'”

Jersi Baker: “My tagline that I always [Tweet] is ‘Live life now’ and I really believe that.”

Young Cancer Survivors Have Higher Risk of Severe Health Problems Later

New York Times

A recent study suggests that people who survive childhood cancers are more likely to experience significant health problems, such as heart disease and recurring or new cancers, and die prematurely. The study’s lead author, Dr. Tara Henderson, director of cancer survivorship at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, said that with improved survival from childhood cancer, there is a need to focus more on long-term side effects of treatment.

Op-Ed: Think You Want to Die at Home? You Might Want to Think Twice About That

LA Times

Dr. Nathan Gray, assistant professor of medicine and palliative care at Duke University School of Medicine, reflects on the burdens of patients dying at home.

“While it might seem like more people spending their last days at home would be better for everyone, seeing the brutal realities of caring for a sick loved one at home has sobered my enthusiasm for sending people home to die.”

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Health Care For All: What Does That Mean?

Kaiser Health News Video

Health care is a top issue for many voters and, as Democrats fight over how best to cover more people, voters are worried about the COST of care — and for good reason. U.S. health spending is dramatically higher than other industrialized nations. Kaiser Health News explains health plans in the 2020 elections:

Health Care Roundup: New Surprise Billing Proposal; When a Young Adult Has Cancer; Breakthrough Immune Cell Discovery; NCCS Project Webinar; More

February 7, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Health Care Coverage, Pre-Existing Conditions Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone.Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

NCCS Joins ACA Amicus Brief

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 minimum essential coverage. The brief argues the proclamation undermines domestic health care policy, specifically the ACA and Medicaid programs. Read the entire brief here.

A New Bipartisan Surprise Billing Bill

Today, the House Ways and Means Committee released the legislative text of their bipartisan surprise medical billing proposal, The Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act. After Congress failed to pass surprise billing legislation in 2019, Congressmen Richard Neal (D-MA) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) developed their own version that includes arbitration, where a third-party arbiter would settle disputes over surprise medical bills. This legislation is designed to curb unexpected medical bills from out-of-network specialists during emergency room visits.

HEALTH POLICY QUIZ

"Health Issues and the Election Quiz"

Kaiser Family Foundation

Test your knowledge about health facts, policy issues, and proposals emerging among presidential candidates in a top voter issue: health care!

Take Kaiser Family Foundation's Quiz »

Support NCCS while shopping on Amazon. A portion of your Amazon purchases will be donated to NCCS when you choose NCCS as your AmazonSmile charity. Get Started »

WHAT WE’RE READING

"When the Teenager or Young Adult Has Cancer"

New York Times

Cancer may be known as a disease of the aging but it does not discriminate against adolescent and young adult survivors. This younger population of survivors are often caught in the “no-man’s land” of oncologists who usually have pediatric or senior patients. What about the survivors who may feel out of place sitting in an infusion chair receiving treatment next to a child?

"What to Do When a Coworker Has Cancer"

Fast Company

Fast Company discusses how having cancer can change everything and provides concrete tips for how and what to say to a colleague who has been diagnosed with cancer.

"Immune Cell Which Kills Most Cancers Discovered by Accident by British Scientists in Major Breakthrough"

The Telegraph

Cardiff University researchers discovered a major breakthrough in a new type of immune cell that kills most cancers. “This was a serendipitous finding, nobody knew this cell existed.”

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

"KHN's 'What The Health?': Fact-Checking President Trump's State Of The Union"

Kaiser Health News

During the State of the Union (SOTU) address this week, President Trump had a lot to say about health care, including pre-existing condition protections, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Listen to top health care reporters analyze the SOTU address »

Episode Length: 44 Minutes

Webinar – Redefining Functional Status: A Patient-Led Quality Measurement Effort

NCCS

What would health care measurement look like if it reflected what patients and caregivers say matters most to them? NCCS set out to answer that question. We hosted a webinar yesterday to share the results of our project, “Redefining Functional Status: A Patient-Led Quality Measurement Effort.”

Check It Out »

Length: 57 Minutes

NCCS Expresses Opposition to CMS Healthy Adult Opportunity Guidance Permitting Medicaid Block Grants

January 30, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog, NCCS News Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Financial Toxicity, Health Care Coverage, Health Equity, Pre-Existing Conditions Issue Statements, NCCS News /by actualize

WASHINGTON, DC. (January 30, 2020) – 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 on Medicaid block grants.

“The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) represents people with all forms of cancer in efforts to ensure access to quality cancer care. NCCS objects to the guidance issued today, which would provide states advice on how to cap the Medicaid expansion program.

“Block grants or caps on Medicaid spending may have several results. States that implement Medicaid block grants will reduce their Medicaid rolls, reduce benefits for those who retain eligibility, increase cost-sharing, or reduce provider payments. Any of these actions, and certainly all of them combined, will eliminate access to care for some and affect the adequacy and quality of care for others. We do not believe that the flexibility of block grants can be utilized without affecting patients negatively.

“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has named its new block grant program the Healthy Adult Opportunity and stated that it will provide states flexibility in providing care to adults under age 65 who are not eligible for Medicaid as a result of disability or in need of long-term care. The name of the program ignores the fact that adults who are on Medicaid expansion are ‘healthy’ only until they receive a cancer diagnosis or other serious diagnosis. At that point, they must have Medicaid benefits that are adequate and comprehensive so that they can receive the treatments they need to survive cancer. Such access may well not be available in a block grant program.

“We oppose the movement to Medicaid block grants, which will compromise access to quality cancer care for many enrolled in Medicaid expansion programs.”

Health Care Roundup: SCOTUS Prolongs ACA Lawsuit Review; Coping with Isolation; Medicaid Block Grants; The Nursing Shortage; More

January 24, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Health Care Coverage, Quality Cancer Care, Shared Decision-Making Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone.Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

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 the individual mandate’s removal rendered the law unconstitutional. Read more about the decision »

Administration Prepares to Allow Medicaid Block Grants

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to allow states to convert Medicaid funding to block grants. Medicaid is currently funded by the federal government matching what a state spends on health care for low income Americans. A block grant would cap the amount of money provided to a state and provide the state flexibility in how to spend it. The cap may force states to cut costs and could jeopardize health care benefits. States that seek waivers likely would not have to adhere to health benefit standards, potentially leaving individuals without comprehensive health care.

CHART OF THE WEEK

Block-Granting Medicaid Jeopardizes Funding Flexibility

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that block-granting Medicaid would “strip away the federal commitment to help vulnerable individuals and families who are eligible for these programs when they need them.” Fixed funding, such as a block grant, would not provide access to increased needs, including economic downturns, natural disasters, and higher costs. The financial inability to provide for spikes like these could leave Medicaid beneficiaries more vulnerable.

Support NCCS while shopping on Amazon. A portion of your Amazon purchases will be donated to NCCS when you choose NCCS as your AmazonSmile charity. Get started »

WHAT WE’RE READING

Cancer’s Emotional Isolation

CURE Today

"Cancer’s Emotional Isolation," by patient advocate Barbara Tako, highlights the isolation cancer survivors can feel, even from their own family members who do not understand the experience of living with cancer. Tako admits the struggle in turning each day’s emotions into a positive — another challenge only others on similar paths would understand. And yet, she reminds us to be gentle with ourselves when moments of isolation happen.

The Nursing Shortage is Threatening Our Care

New York Times

A first-hand account by a patient reveals the dangers of the nursing shortage, which places undue strain on overburdened nurses:

My friend Dana arrived at Bloomington Hospital’s emergency department with a problem that many people confront after below-the-belt surgery or radiation: a bowel blockage. Dana ended up spending the entire night in the emergency department. When she asked why, she was told that administrators at the short-staffed hospital had closed an entire floor.

The shortage is expected to increase:

Especially in the context of an aging population, the retirements of a generation of baby boomers — one million of the 3.8 million registered nurses in the United States will leave the work force between now and 2030 — have created and will continue to create staffing crunches.

Insurance Status Helps Explain Racial Disparities in Cancer Diagnosis

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Blog

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health, writes that nearly half of racial disparities in late-stage breast cancer diagnoses are due to differences in health insurance coverage.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

'What the Health?' Podcast: SCOTUS Punts on ACA Case – For Now

Kaiser Health News

Four health news reporters discuss the Supreme Court’s decision to decline hearing the ACA lawsuit right now. Tune in to hear what that may mean for the future of the law. Listen Here »

Episode Length: 49 Minutes

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

January 10, 2020/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Drug Pricing, Health Care Coverage, Palliative Care, Quality Cancer Care Health Care Roundup, NCCS News /by actualize

We aim to make the Health Care Roundup a concise, one-stop summary of what you need to know as we continue working together to make cancer care better for everyone.Your feedback is always welcome to make our content more useful to you. Please send comments to feedback@canceradvocacy.org.

Subscribe to our email list and receive these updates in your email box »

HEALTH CARE HIGHLIGHTS

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 to analyze each provision (including pre-existing condition protections) of the Affordable Care Act and determine whether it can stand, even if the individual mandate is considered unconstitutional. The District Court had previously ruled that the individual mandate was not severable from the ACA, so the entire ACA would be considered unconstitutional.

On January 3, a coalition of 20 Democratic Attorneys General filed a legal brief requesting that the Supreme Court immediately take up a challenge to the ACA, calling on the justices to decide the law’s fate on an expedited basis, before the presidential election in November.

NCCS joined with 24 patient groups in a statement endorsing the expedited Supreme Court review of the ACA case. View the statement »

Health Policy Experts Wary of Drug Importation Plan

In mid-December, the Trump Administration announced a plan to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada in an effort to reduce the cost of these medications.

Health policy experts are unconvinced that this strategy will help lower drug costs, or that it is even possible. Kaiser Health News reports that the plan is unlikely to work because Canada doesn't produce enough drugs, nor does it seem to be on board with exporting the ones it does have to America. Beyond that, experts say the president's plan will have little to no impact on what consumers pay for drugs. Politico outlines why importation is not the answer.

CHART OF THE WEEK

Progress On Lung Cancer Drives Historic Drop In U.S. Cancer Death Rate

National Public Radio (NPR)

The American Cancer Society released their annual Cancer Statistics report. The study found overall cancer mortality dropped 2.2% from 2016 to 2017—the largest drop ever recorded in one year—thanks in large part to improvements in certain lung cancer and melanoma treatments. However, progress against other cancers has slowed, mainly due to obesity and persistent economic, geographic, and racial disparities in cancer care.

Read the story on NPR »

American Cancer Society: "Cancer Facts and Figures 2020" »

Support NCCS while shopping on Amazon. A portion of your Amazon purchases will be donated to NCCS when you choose NCCS as your AmazonSmile charity. Get started »

WHAT WE’RE READING

Op-Ed: Immunotherapy, precision medicine in lung cancer drive sharp decline in cancer mortality overall

The Cancer Letter

Dr. Otis Brawley discusses the recent drop in cancer mortality described in the American Cancer Society report, attributing the decline to immunotherapy and precision medicine advancements in lung cancer.

Immunotherapy is showing such a dramatic impact in the treatment of locally advanced and advanced non-small cell lung cancer that this effect elevates the statistics for all lung cancer and—this I find astonishing—you can even see its effect in age-adjusted cancer mortality overall.

A.I. Comes to the Operating Room

New York Times

Brain surgeons are using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose tumors accurately and much faster, according to a report in the journal Nature Medicine. "The new approach streamlines the standard practice of analyzing tissue samples while the patient is still on the operating table, to help guide brain surgery and later treatment."

My 92-Year-Old Father Didn’t Need More Medical Care

The Atlantic

Health policy expert Zeke Emanuel describes a hospital episode where his father received unnecessary interventions without taking the patient's or family's preferences into consideration.

It was easy for the hospital physician to call a neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist and for them to assess my father early on a Sunday morning before I arrived. But when I asked if we could get my father a palliative-care consult on Sunday, the answer was a definitive no. All we got was the number of the hospital’s palliative-care service; we had to call the next day, during normal business hours, to arrange a future consultation.

New Kansas proposal breaks impasse on expanding Medicaid

Washington Post

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and state Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning announced Thursday that they have struck a bipartisan deal to bring Medicaid expansion to Kansas.

The expansion would make more than 100,000 Kansans eligible for health coverage through Medicaid. The plan does not include work requirements, but it does mandate a $25 a month premium for new enrollees—a detail that will require approval from federal regulators. Gov. Kelly’s goal is to pass the plan through the legislature this year so that new enrollees can begin coverage in January 2021.

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO

A renewed focus on health care in 2020

Detroit Today, WDET Radio

Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News was interviewed by “Detroit Today” about how health care is playing out in the 2020 presidential campaign and concerns over changes brought by the ACA. The conversation included focusing on rising health plan deductibles, Democratic candidates’ battle over a “Medicare for All” plan and the growing concerns about surprise medical bills.

NCCS Statement on ACA Lawsuit Ruling Issued by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

December 19, 2019/in Cancer News, Cancer Policy Blog, NCCS News Access to Care, Affordable Care Act, Financial Toxicity, Health Care Coverage, Health Equity, Pre-Existing Conditions Issue Statements, NCCS News /by actualize

December 19, 2019 – 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 analysis regarding whether other parts of the ACA can stand without the individual mandate.

NCCS would first like to offer assurances to those Americans who are insured by health insurance plans purchased through the ACA marketplaces, those who are enrolled in Medicaid authorized by ACA, and many others who enjoy the pre-existing condition protections and other protections of the ACA. You will continue to benefit from the important programs and protections of the ACA while the litigation continues and the courts proceed with consideration of the ACA challenge.

At the same time, NCCS is disappointed that a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the ACA, a cloud that causes worry for individual consumers and that affects the implementation and administration of the law. We will continue to press lawmakers to reassert their support for the patient protections of the ACA, for the subsidies that make insurance affordable for many Americans, and for access to Medicaid. We have evidence that the ACA has improved access to cancer care for many vulnerable Americans, and we are not satisfied to see that progress reversed.

We understand that the state attorneys general who are defending the ACA will ask the Supreme Court to review Texas v. United States without delay and before the District Court reviews the case again on remand. Because this request may be the fastest path to resolution of the legal questions surrounding the ACA, we support this effort.

# # #

Coalition Statement

NCCS also joined with 28 patient groups in a statement voicing concerns with the recent ruling in the ACA lawsuit. Read the statement below or view in a new browser tab.

Previous NCCS Coverage of Texas v. United States

17 Patient Groups Urge Appeals Court to Uphold Health Care Law

Health Care Roundup: ACA Lawsuit Update; Chronic Pain Study; “Have Cancer, Must Travel;” “Survivorship Issues Reshape a Researcher’s Career;” More

Health Care Roundup: Justice Dept Changes ACA Position; Medicaid Work Requirements Struck Down; Caregivers’ Costs; End-of-Life Conversations; More

NCCS Applauds House Vote on Behalf of Patients to Defend the ACA and Its Pre-Existing Condition Protections

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