Representative Charlie Dent

Legislation was introduced in Congress today that will correct an oversight to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires Medicare beneficiaries to pay coinsurance when their screening colonoscopy also involves the removal of a polyp or cancer. When a screening colonoscopy turns therapeutic, the cost to the Medicare patient is significant – $100 to $300 – and it could serve as a deterrent to screening.

The legislation, Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012 (H.R. 4120), was introduced by Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania.

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Earlier today, a federal appeals court in Ohio held that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. Specifically, in a 2-1 ruling, the Sixth Circuit held the “individual mandate” does not exceed Congress’s powers under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. The individual mandate is the provision in the new health reform law requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance by 2014 or face a monetary penalty.

In a 64-page opinion, the court held “that the minimum coverage provision is a valid exercise of legislative power by Congress under the Commerce Clause.” Read the court’s decision.

Judge Jeffrey Sutton is the first Republican-nominated judge to rule in favor of upholding the law. In his concurring opinion, Judge Sutton wrote that while the plaintiffs challenging the law failed to make their case for now the ruling doesn’t prevent individuals from initiating new challenges to the Affordable Care Act after the insurance requirement goes into effect and it becomes clear how the law affects particular individuals.

The court’s decision today upheld a district-court ruling that also found the law constitutional. There are two other cases challenging the Affordable Care Act pending before different federal appeals court.

Today, Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), announced the appointment of the following 15 individuals to the Methodology Committee of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

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Ellen Sigal

Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), announced the appointment of 19 members to the Board of Governors for the new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI or the Institute). The Institute was created by the Affordable Care Act to set comparative effectiveness research priorities, establish research methods, and communicate research results to the public.

The PCORI Board appointed today includes three patient and consumer representatives. One of those representatives is Ellen Sigal, PhD, Chairperson and founder of Friends of Cancer Research, a cancer research think tank and advocacy organization. Ms. Sigal’s term on the Board will expire in September 2016.

The Colorectal Cancer Coalition is a member of Friends of Cancer Research and congratulates Ms. Sigal on her appointment. Nancy Roach, founder and Colorectal Cancer Coalition Board Chair released a statement congratulating Ms. Sigal on her appointment:

“Ellen’s engagement in both the policy and science of research make her an excellent choice. The Colorectal Cancer Coalition looks forward to working with the Board in advancing comparative effectiveness research for the benefit of patients.”

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The House is set to vote this afternoon on the Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act of 2010 (S. 1674) introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The bill provides that the first $2,000 per year received by an individual for participation in a clinical trial shall not be counted as income for the purpose of calculating Social Security benefits.  This provision was included in the House-passed health care reform bill last November, but was not included in the final bill the President signed into law in March.

The Senate already passed this bill on August 5.  House passage later today will clear the bill for review and signature by the President.