OOOOh there’s something about a good ole’ fashioned Washington, DC rally that really gets us going.

Next Monday you will find Fight Colorectal Cancer standing alongside many other health-focused non-profits at the Rally for Medical Research.

Why?

Well, we do have a thing for The Hill.

But we’re participating to show our government that we too have a dream – a county that invests in a cure for colorectal cancer and supports medical research.

If you’re in or around the DC area Monday, April 8, join us at the Rally for Medical Research.

If you’re not around – keep reading for how you can get involved! You don’t have to live near DC to make a difference.

After all, that’s why we have US representatives from every state.

What’s This Rally All About?

Many sponsors and partner organizations are coming together to make the rally a reality. Because another reality is that federal funding for medical research is on the chopping block.

As this continues, the future health of Americans is in jeopardy.

As we learned from our researchers at the Call-on Congress, medical research is critical if we want to find a cure for disease, stay healthy and lengthen lives. But when federal funds do not support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies, we shoot ourselves in the foot.

Or, should we say, we let ourselves go. Or we let disease take control… you get the idea.

Understanding the NIH

We don’t plan to stand outside with signs and bat our eyes at lawmakers for fun.

We have a specific ask:  We want to see more federal funds go to the NIH. As the Rally website explains it,

The federal government plays an essential role in funding medical research in the United States, primarily through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is part of the Department of Health and Human Services and is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. Currently funded at $30.6 billion, the NIH is the world’s leading supporter of medical research; research that has had an immeasurable impact on all of our lives by enhancing public health, lengthening life, reducing the burden of illness and disability and most importantly, saving lives.   We must continue the vigorous pursuit of new breakthroughs in science, health and medicine that are supported through the NIH to improve the entire spectrum of patient care, from prevention, early detection, and diagnosis, to treatment and long-term survivorship.  Moreover, NIH funding does more than save lives.  It fuels the U.S. economy and creates jobs in our communities.

We must fight to keep the NIH funded and protected if we want to stay on top of the world’s groundbreaking medical research.

Especially when it comes to colorectal cancer.

Are you Coming to The Rally?

If you’re coming out for the DC rally, here’s the info you’ll need: Medical Research Rally Information Page

Can’t Make It? No problem.

If you cannot attend the rally (we get it – we work, too) – here’s how you can help:

• Email your reps
• Tweet at your reps
• Write a Letter to the Editor this week

Check out the Rally for Medical Research’s Toolkit for sample tweets and messages – you don’t even have to come up with this stuff on your own!

We hope you can join us once again to demand a cure for colorectal cancer and fight for medical research funding.

Let’s show the world we are strong – and we think it should stay that way.

Some people who go in for a routine screening colonoscopy (fully covered by most insurance) can end up with a surprise bill of several hundred dollars, if the doctor detected and removed one or more polyps.

Under current law, Medicare beneficiaries must pay a coinsurance when their screening colonoscopy also involves the removal of polyps or other tissue—because it is reclassified as a “treatment” procedure. Additionally, while current law also requires most private payers to cover colorectal cancer screenings without cost-sharing (copays/ coinsurance/ deductible), private payers have interpreted the rules differently. Some private payers waive cost- sharing when a screening involves the removal of polyps or other tissue; others do not.

Two weeks ago, we scored a partial victory. The Department of Health and Human Services issued a regulation change stating that private insurance companies cannot charge patients for the removal of a polyp during a screening colonoscopy. The HHS ruling this week was a result of a very productive meeting that we had at HHS last summer with a cooperative group of patient advocacy organizations and professional doctors’ associations.

This is progress, but this ruling doesn’t fix the Medicare policy—yet.

This is what Fight Colorectal Cancer does: Fight for you

For those of you who are new to Fight Colorectal Cancer, you’ll quickly learn that one of our strengths is being a respected, well-known voice in Congress and key federal agencies (e.g., National Cancer Institute, the FDA, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dept. of Defense). Our staff and advocates monitor events 24/7 and work behind the scenes—often for months or years–on tedious details and complex issues with the decision makers. We’ve been partnering with other organizations since 2012 on this particular, knotty problem.

In last year’s Congress, Fight Colorectal Cancer was instrumental in the introduction of legislation in the House (H.R. 4120) that would correct Medicare law, and has lobbied the Department of HHS for a change in regulation.

We are working with our congressional allies to see if this HHS ruling may somehow spur the Medicare fix, while also continuing to work toward the reintroduction of a House bill (and a Senate bill) to get the job done in the 113^th Congress.

As soon as we get new House and Senate bill numbers for this year, we’ll issue an  Action Alert here so you can begin lobbying your congressional representatives.

What this means for patients:

• If you have private insurance, have a routine screening colonoscopy (not ordered to check out symptoms, or as a result of a positive stool blood test); and have precancerous polyps removed, your insurer cannot charge a copayment. (The HHS has ruled that removing precancerous polyps is an “integral part of a colonoscopy.” Under the Affordable Care Act, no copays can be charged for approved screening tests.)
• If you have private insurance, and your doctor determines that you are in a high-risk category (e.g., you have a family history of colorectal cancer) that is covered by screening guidelines, the same rules apply: No copayment for a screening colonoscopy that includes removal of precancerous polyps.
• If you have Medicare coverage, you may still be charged a copayment if a screening colonoscopy includes removal of a polyp.
• If you have either private or Medicare coverage, it appears that a followup colonoscopy ordered because of a positive FOBT (stool test for blood) is not considered a screening procedure, and is not covered by this rule change.

 Yes, it’s complicated. If you have questions or concerns, please call our Answer Line at 1-877-427-2111.

For more information:

* Click here for clarifications of Affordable Care Act coverage of screening, including colonoscopy:

* Read here about Fight Colorectal Cancer’s 2013 Legislative goals.

* For tools on making your voice heard, our 2012 Advocacy Handbook  is a great start. A 2013 version for this year’s Congress is in final production. Stay tuned.

We gave you a small taste of what happened on Friday.

But today we’ll give you more!

THANK YOU to everyone who promoted our One Million Strong Kickoff – either in NYC or from a distance.

Remember – you can still take the pledge to become a part of One Million Strong.

Get Behind a Cure.

WARNING:  Awesomeness ahead – get ready for this!

Success:  One Million Strong – Times Square Kickoff

We made quite the “splash” for the colorectal cancer community. Just take a look:

Extra, Extra… There’s a 20-foot Colon in Times Square! [press coverage]

Turns out ladies and gents of the news media couldn’t resist a giant colon sitting in Times Square, either. Take a look at some of the fun media exposure we received so far!

• ABCNews.com – Colorectal Cancer Month Kicks Off with Giant Inflatable Colon in Times Square
• Metro NY – pre-event features!
• Good Morning America - anyone see our advocates in the crowd and the TWO “plugs” for our Times Square event?
• Nationally syndicated press release from Fight Colorectal Cancer & Bayer
• ESPN: Quillin joins fight against colorectal cancer. WBO middleweight champion Peter Quillin, helps kick off a campaign called “One Million Strong” on Friday at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square.

No war is fought alone… [sponsors of the event]

Of course, none of this would be made possible without awesome sponsors. We cannot say thank you enough to these organizations for making this event happen!

• Bayer Healthcare (main sponsor)

And – our NASDAQ Billboard sponsors:

• Bayer Healthcare
• Board member DAVID WICKS who gave the opportunity for us to be on the NASDAQ and Reuters boards.
• Genentech
• Given Imaging
• Quicken Loans
• Aquacai Water
• Boston Scientific

And… our community partners. You all rock!

• Prevent Cancer Foundation & the Prevent Cancer Super Colon
• The Colon Club‘s Board of Director, Debbie Donovan, who helped with our social media efforts
• Profile Barber Institute’s CEO and owner, Rodrick Samuels, was our Master of Ceremonies and sponsored our graffiti art mural
• Leighton Jacobus, medical student and artist
• Devin James, CEO of Devin James Group
• Micky Kerwick and the team at LuluLemon Atheletica, who lead our yoga classes
• James Darling, who lead our fabulous dance party
• Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin who is the current Middleweight Champion of the World
• Canvas Commercial Media Group
• Sky and Livi, Founder & CEO, Anjanette Dienne Sinesio came to present her signature awareness bracelet for the picture of the day winner

Excuse Me Miss – We Need your Pledge! [numbers from Times Square]

We met TONS of people during our Time Square event! Official counts are coming in, but so far:

• Over 500 people walked through the Super Colon!
• Over 400 people made the One Million Strong Pledge!
• THOUSANDS of flyers, hats, t-shirts, bags and stickers promoting One Million Strong and colorectal cancer awareness went out among New York City!

The Tweets Read Across the world [social media success]

Not only did those in NYC feel the excitement, those in the Twitter-verse and on Facebook also felt the excitement! Just look at what ONE DAY on social media stirred up:

• 168 NEW FACEBOOK FANS! Our posts reached at least 43,717 people!
• Our #1MilStrong hashtag had the potential exposure of reaching 98,823 people!
• On Friday, March 1, 351 tweets about #1MilStrong and #ColonCancer awareness, reaching 371,280 Twitter users
• On Saturday, Sam Champion of Good Morning America (over 130K followers) and the band Lady Antebellum (over 200K followers) followed suit by tweeting information about colorectal cancer awareness month kicking off in March; reaching another 300k Twitter users.
• Reuters’ medical journalist, Andrew M. Seaman tweeted about the Super Colon:
  

  @andrewmseaman:  I think I passed a giant colon in Times Square on my way to work this morning. Looks like @FightCRC has something to so with it.

• Trade publication, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News (@gastroendonews) joined One Million Strong:
  

  @gastroendonews I just joined 1milstrong in the fight against colorectal cancer! pledge today at http://crcmillionstrong.org 

• Lady Antellebum helped bring some awareness to our big day!
  

  @ladyafans: RT @FightCRC: Charles Kelley of @ladyantebellum in our #1milstrong PSA as it plays in Times Square http://t.co/lTt5t8eYNY

• New York Presbyterian Hospital tweeted about the Super Colon:
  

  @nyphospital: Spotted in @timessquarenyc: @fightcrc’s #supercolon. #coloncancerawareness #1milstrong http://t.co/Tu6kEbfG1n

• Kid Chocolate (Professional Boxer) tweeted about One Million Strong:
  

  @KIDCHOCOLATE: I luv a good fight! I joined #1MilStrong 2 fight #ColorectalCancer! Meet me 4 pics&autographs #FridayMarch1st in #TimesSq3PM w/ @FightCRC

See for yourself [event photos & videos]

Last but not least – see for yourself. We’ve got great photos and videos that captured the entire day.

• Check out our Flickr stream
• Watch videos on Vimeo

Thanks again to everyone who made Times Square come alive with colorectal cancer awareness!

We are One Million Strong!

Knowing what the signs of colorectal cancer are and talking to your doctor about them – no matter what your age – is one of the key messages that Fight Colorectal Cancer President Carlea Bauman conveyed in her recent interview with Comcast Newsmakers.

In the weeks leading up to March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Washington, DC, Comcast station is broadcasting this piece to make people aware of the disease, as well as the work that Fight Colorectal Cancer is doing locally and around the country.

Comcast Newsmakers is a unique news program that provides community leaders with a platform to discuss issues and ideas important to the communities they serve allowing them to better connect with their constituents and the community at large. Fight Colorectal Cancer thanks the station for airing this vital public service announcement.

A group of experts in cancer advocacy have identified Fight Colorectal Cancer as a top 10 high-impact nonprofit working in the field of cancer in the United States.

The report of experts was gathered by Philanthropedia (at GuideStar), a nonprofit organization working to help donors make smarter donations by connecting them with some of the highest impact nonprofits in a cause. They are different from other online rating sites or donation sites because they use experts to identify high-impact nonprofits.

Here is a sample of what the experts said about us:

“In the 6 years since Fight Colorectal Cancer was founded, they have had an impact in areas where nothing had been done before.”

“They are able to impact federal funding for colorectal cancer and have succeeded in seeing legislation introduced and funding increased.”

“This organization is far better than most at blending compassionate assistance to individual patients and family members with a sophisticated technical understanding of the disease, treatment options, and technically complex policy issues.”

“Fight Colorectal Cancer was responsible for securing millions of dollars for new research through their work on Capitol Hill. They were instrumental in getting colorectal cancer screenings included in health care reform. Currently they are leading the way in keeping patients informed about cancer drug shortages. They also directly fund research. In the six years of their existence, they have provided four research grants totaling $150,000.”

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