May, 2006
ArchivesMedicare rights booklet available online
Your Medicare Rights and Protections is available online for download. It includes information about:
- the right to file a complaint
- how to get the health services needed health services
- the right to privacy
- where to get answers to questions
It includes information about rights in the original Medicare Plan, Medicare Health Plans (including Medicare Advantage), Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, and private Medigap insurance policies.
Medicare questions can be answered by calling 1–800–MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Posted by Kate Murphy on May 15th, 2006
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Viritual colonoscopy is safe in a large study
CT colonography — so-called virtual colonoscopy — has few complications and an excellent safety profile. Reviewing over 20,000 CT colonographies, the Working Group on Virtual Colonoscopy found only four cases where patients needed to be hospitalized after a virtual colonoscopy procedure. Overall the complication rate was 0.018%.
Risk of perforating the colon during air inflation were reduced when automatic carbon dioxide was used.
None of the complications or colon perforations occurred during screening colonography; all happened during diagnostic studies of patients who had symptoms of a potential colon problem. About half of the CT procedures were diagnostic.
The results of the Working Group study were reported at the 2006 American Roentgen Ray Society meeting by Dr. Perry Pickhardt from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. The presentation is discussed online in Diagnostic Imaging.
virtual colonoscopy CT colonography
Posted by Kate Murphy on May 15th, 2006
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Possible mechanism for improved colorectal cancer survival with physical exercise
Researchers in Australia have linked a protein — insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) – with better survival in physically active colorectal cancer patients. Increased levels of the protein resulted in a 48% reduction in colorectal cancer deaths during a median follow-up time of nearly 6 years.
For those who were not physically active, IGFBP-3 made no difference in survival.
Insulin-growth factor 1 (IFG-1) levels made no difference for either physically active or inactive patients.
The team headed by Dr. Andrew Hayden in Melbourne concluded:
This study supports the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of physical activity in reducing colorectal cancer mortality may occur through interactions with the insulin-like growth factor axis and in particular IGFBP-3.
Their results were published in the May 2006 issue of Gut
Posted by Kate Murphy on May 14th, 2006
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Update on funding for research and prevention
Funding for cancer research and prevention continues to be at risk. The President’s Budget proposed significant cuts to health and education efforts, including a $40 million cut at NCI.
Thanks to pressure from advocates, the Senate agreed to restore $7 billion to the health and education budget through the Specter-Harkin Amendment. This funding would restore many of the budget cuts and allow for inflation costs.
Representative Mike Castle has been working to convince the House to mirror the Senate action. At this point, the House has agreed to restore $4.1 billion, which is just not enough. Castle and his fellow moderates are seeking the additional funding.
These are just the initial decisions on cancer research and prevention funding this year. The fight to increase funding will continue throughout the spring and summer in both the House and Senate. C3 will alert you when your actions will make the most difference, so stay tuned!
Posted by Nancy Roach on May 14th, 2006
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S. 1955 - Colonoscopies Saved!
On May 11, Senate opponents of S.1955 were able to defeat efforts to have the bill considered on the Senate floor. Details of how your Senator voted can be found here. The "no" votes supported our position, and will be thanked for their support.
This means that S. 1955 is stalled, at least for now. S. 1955 (Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization & Affordability Act) which attempts to lower insurer costs by preempting access to medical care guaranteed at the state level. See a summary of the action and comments from all sides of the debate here.
The logic behind S. 1955 is: "We need cheaper health care. Health care that’s not required to include things like colon cancer screening will cost less. Therefore, if we drop the requirements to provide coverage for things like colon cancer screening, health care will be cheaper."
My grandmother would have called this "penny wise, pound foolish." Yes, we save money in the short run. If people over age 50 aren’t screened for colon cancer, their insurance will cost less. But what happens to people who GET colon cancer? Studies have shown that colon cancer screening is cost-effective–and most importantly, it saves lives.
C3 strongly opposed S. 1955 (PDF file) and we wish to thank all of you who responded to our action alert to support our position.
Colorectal cancer wasn’t the only screening threatened by S. 1955. Opposition was led by a large coalition of health advocacy organizations, including the American Cancer Society (PDF file), AARP, the American Diabetes Association and the National Partnership for Women and Children. A group of 39 state attorneys general submitted a letter saying, "Insurers of individual, small group and large group policies could ignore [state] requirements in favor of the bare-bones plans, subjecting consumers to reduced care and ever-increasing out-of-pocket expenses."
Alternatives to S. 1955 are being proposed by Senator Olympia Snowe, and by Senators Durbin and Lincoln.
Posted by Nancy Roach on May 14th, 2006
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 1 Comment »
