Labor-HHS Approrpriations Bill in Conference; Cancer Funding Cuts Possible

The Labor-HHS appropriations bill for fiscal year 2006 is now in conference. This is because the Senate and the House of Representatives passed differing versions: the Senate version raised National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding by $1 billion while the House version approved an increase of $145 million

The Senate version is a 3.7% increase which is about equal to the medical research inflation rate. The House version is essentially a cut because of inflation and it would probably hit NIH with a cut of about $100 million.

The ultimate fate of the Senate increase is in doubt due to major pressure in both the Senate and the House for cuts in mandatory and discretionary spending. There is legislation in both houses which cuts between $40 and $50 billion in mandatory spending. There continues to be discussion of an across-the-board cut in discretionary spending which would include cuts in NIH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Just last month, 92 Senators and 280 Representatives signed a letter in support of the Bush Administration’s goal to eliminate suffering and death due to cancer by 2015. Cutting funding for cancer research and other cancer programs is a step in the wrong direction. It would mean delays in new cancer drugs, new cancer screenings and life-saving cancer treatments. By depriving cancer programs of critical funding Congress goes back on the commitment it made its letter to reach the 2015 goal.

Some in Congress say we cannot afford to spend more on cancer research. We say “Can we afford not to?”

Call your Senators and Representatives to tell them to fully fund cancer programs. You can also click on the “One Minute Advocate” link to send a message to Congress.

Posted by Dusty Weaver on November 11th, 2005
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Force Congress to Face the FAX About Cancer Research

Congress is deciding how to spend our tax dollars - the decisions could be made this week - and the House of Representatives is still considering a cut of $100,000,000 to cancer research funding.

C3 is a member of the [One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC)](http://www.ovaconline.org) coalition. OVAC has professionals in DC telling our Representatives that cancer matters at home. We must reinforce that message if we want our Representatives to listen.

C3 has set up an action alert in our [One Minute Advocate](http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=cgKJLROyEpH&b=437949) so you can log in and send a fax to your elected representative - it’s automated and it’s free. All you need to do is enter your name and address (because Representatives ignore communications unless they come from constituents) - the system does the rest.

**Do it today.**

Posted by Nancy Roach on November 10th, 2005
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U.S. House Asks CMS to Extend Demonstration Project

This year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated a one-year demonstration project titled “Demonstration of Improved Quality of Care for Cancer Patients Undergoiong Chemotherapy.” The focus of the project was on measuring patient outcomes in three areas of concern often cited by patients undergoing chemotherapy: controlling pain, minimizing nausea and vomiting, and reducing fatigue.

October 6, 2005 H.Res. 261, a resolution introduced by Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-4) on May 4, 2005, passed the U.S. House of Representives in a voice vote. At the time of its passage the resolution had 33 cosponsors.

The purpose of the resolution, described in the title, was to express

>”the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoiong chemotherapy, and should extend the project through 2006, subject to any appropriate modifications.”

Rep. Hall said the following about the need to extend this demonstration project in a floor statement he made the day of the resolution passed:

>”Delivering cancer treatment involves more than simply providing chemotherapy drugs. Oncologists need to plan drug regimens, educate caregivers, and monitor patient symptoms. They are responsible for managing pain, minimizing nausea, and limiting fatigue.

>”The demonstration project was critically important to protecting quality cancer care in 2005. It provided resources to assess the patient experience with chemotherapy side effects, including pain, nausea, and fatigue. The project has achieved three important objectives: collecting data to improve the quality of cancer care, maintaining stability in the cancer care delivery system, and focusing limited resources in an aspect of cancer treatment most difficult for patients.”

CMS conducts and sponsors a number of demonstrations projects to test and measure the effect of potential program changes.

Posted by Dusty Weaver on October 22nd, 2005
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C3 Joins National Efforts to Save Lives

The Colorectal Cancer Coalition is pleased to announce that we have joined forces with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), a nationwide coalition of private, public and volunteer organizations who work together to advance the control of colorectal cancer. Through coordinated efforts and improved communication, NCCRT:

* Strengthens the network of public and private organizations concerned
with promoting colorectal cancer screening
* Determines clinical and consumer barriers to screening through research
* Assesses current public awareness of and interest in screening
* Develops and disseminates health messages.

C3 remains focused on our mission to reduce the suffering and death due to colorectal cancer through pushing policy, research and awareness. We look forward to working with NCCRT in a combined effort to prove that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable and beatable!

Posted by Nancy Roach on October 21st, 2005
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National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) will host the National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health on January 9-11, 2006 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The Summit is part of the Office of Minority Health’s (OMH) broader initiative to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. The landmark 1985 Report of the HHS Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health created OMH and served as an impetus for addressing health inequalities for racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. This Summit marks the 20th year since the establishment of OMH and is intended to promote best practices and collaborative actions that are vital to improving minority health in the future.

1. Highlight current and emerging research and related efforts to illuminate understanding of and solutions to eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in health;
2. Showcase promising practices, models that work and lessons learned;
3. Assess racial and ethnic minority community needs, strengths, and actions necessary to close the disparity gaps; and
4. Develop recommendations and strategies for future directions.

The Summit is designed around the following six tracks:

1. Health Care Access, Utilization, and Quality;
2. Healthcare and the Public Health Workforce;
3. Research, Data, and Evaluation;
4. Health Information Technology;
5. Health Disparities Across the Lifespan; and
6. Culture, Language, and Health Literacy.

It is expected that the Summit will bring together over 2200 leaders from all levels of government, academia, public health, mental health, minority-serving institutions, and minority communities to advance key issues and opportunities for improving minority health and closing the health gap. Information on the upcoming Summit can be accessed on the OMH’s summit website.

Posted by Dusty Weaver on October 16th, 2005
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