The Year in Cancer Policy

Putting the Cancer Patient First

The “Putting the Cancer Patient First: Payment Reform in an Age of Personalized Cancer Care” symposium took place in February at the American Enterprise Institute Conference Center in Washington, DC. The event was co-hosted by AEI and NCCS. A summary and overview was posted via Oncology Times.

Focus on the Care

While we hope for the cure, we must focus on the care. In November, we honored Susan Gubar and Lillie Shockney at the Focus on the Care event in Washington, DC. NCCS wrote a follow-up post to this event in celebration of the honorees and Cancerversaries.

Cancer Policy Advocate Training

This year we launched a new advocacy program, the Cancer Policy Advocate Training. The first webinar covered Current Issues in Cancer Care, followed by an in-person meeting in November, and a post-training webinar in December.

Staff Posts

Incremental Improvements Are Not Enough
In this post, NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso puts a human face on why Incremental Improvements are often not enough, as well as the importance of addressing quality of life issues.

Defining Cancer Survivorship
In 1986, there was a tremendous need for language that truly told the story of life after a cancer diagnosis.

When Talking About End of Life Issues, Words and Honesty Matter
There are a number of factors and barriers that explain the disconnect between patient wishes and the care patients receive.

Nina and Shelley with Tim Wert from Eli Lilly and Company while painting a panel of the Hope Mural at the 2014 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Reactions to ASCO’s Annual Meeting
This year’s meeting marked the 50th anniversary with the highest attendance to date.

Why We Care About Physician Payment
The way we as a country compensate physicians directly affects the care patients receive. Our current system is not sustainable for physicians, patients, or taxpayers.

Journey Forward: How Can We Make Survivorship Care Planning a Reality?
A post that puts policy into practice by highlighting Survivorship Care Planning tools and resources.

Addressing the Gaps in Treatment Planning and Coordination with the PACT Act (H.R. 2477)

“The Law of Intended Consequences” Article Added to Our Influential Publication Resources 

Guest Posts

Some of our favorite Cancer Policy Matters guest posts of 2014 offered thoughtful and thought-provoking opinions and insight on some of the most pressing issues in cancer policy. Read all of ourguest posts on our blog.

Are Right to Try Laws a Good Idea?: Alison Bateman-House, PhD, MPH, MA

Fighting Cancer Means Fighting for Cancer Data: Stephanie Teleki, PhD

Lung Cancer Awareness Month Brings a Long-Awaited Nod to Lung Cancer Screening: Peter Bach, MD, MAPP

Study Reports Nurse Navigators Make a Difference: Carole McCue, RN, MS, CNE

Forgotten Survivors—Supporting the Needs of Patients with Advanced Cancers: Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS

Meeting Consumer Expectations and Health Needs in the New Health Insurance Exchanges:  Tanisha Carino, PhD

Arizona Republic Article Shows Self-referral Abuse Persists: Bruce G. Haffty, MD