Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers

May 18, 2023

A thank you letter led by AARP to President Biden for the Executive Order issued on April 18.  The Executive Order, Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers provides family caregivers with information, access to affordable, high-quality care and increased support and resources for caregivers themselves.  View Letter

National Ostomy Awareness Day

May 15, 2023

Letter to President Biden asking him to issue a Presidential Proclamation recognizing October 7, 2023 as National Ostomy Awareness Day.  View Letter

Reject Spending Cuts for Non-Defense Discretionary Appropriations

May 15, 2023

A letter to Congressional leadership, signed by more than 750 organizations, asking Congress not to reduce spending for Non-Defense Discretionary (NDD) programs – including things like scientific and medical research.  View Letter

Stop UnitedHealthcare’s Prior Authorization Program

May 8, 2023

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is planning to implement a prior authorizaiton program on June 1, 2023 for all non-screening GI procedures. This program will cause delays or treatment abandonment in care for high-risk individuals that require surveillance or diagnostic colonoscopies. The multi-organizational letter is demanding that UHC reasses and withdraw their proposed prior authorization program.  View Letter

NIH FY24 Funding Recommendation

March 14, 2023

More than 370 groups signed a letter requesting an increase for NIH in the  FY 24 Appropriation spending bill.  The Ad Hoc Group recommends at least $50.924 billion for NIH’s foundational work, a $3.465 billion increase over the FY 2023 spending level. This increase will allow robust annual growth to increase federal research and development (R&D) and maintain our competitiveness in the global economy. Additionally, the group requests that any funds allocated to the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) are in addition to and separate from NIH research dollars.  View Letter

Sign on Support for the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act

March 13, 2023

A letter addressed to the leaders of both the majority and minority parties in both chambers. The letter is written and signed on behalf of patients, advocacy organizations, cancer centers, and healthcare professionals to make Congressional leadership aware that this piece of legislation will address gaps in care for Medicare beneficiaries. Specifically, their access to genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk, evidence-based screening, and risk-reducing interventions. Currently, Medicare covers genetic testing only for beneficiaries already diagnosed with cancer or with signs and symptoms. Closing these gaps will increase prevention, enable early cancer detection and reduce the risk for individuals who carry an inherited mutation. View Letter

Coalition comment letter on on the proposed 2024 standards for health insurers and Marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

January 30, 2023

The submitted public comment led by the Cancer Leadership Council and signed by Fight CRC comments on a CMS proposed rule and specifically pertains to provisions of the rule that advance the fundamental goal of protecting access to adequate and affordable care. Specifically, the letter commends and supports the implementation of wait time standards; the decision to codify the requirement that dependent children maintain coverage until the end of the plan year in which they turn 26; the expansion of special enrollment periods; and standardized plan options. Additionally, the letter asks HHS to require issuers to abide by the standards of the plans that they offer and to restrict their ability to fundamentally change their plan offerings through various efforts to restrict prescription drug coverage; consider network standards that will ensure access to care that is culturally competent and linguistically appropriate;  and to provide special enrollment periods to patients who lose their doctor in the middle of a plan year. View Letter

Safe Harbor Proposal to the Office of the Inspector General within the Department of Health and Human Services

January 27, 2023

The federal comment letter led by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network proposes a new regulatory safe harbor to the federal health care program anti-kickback statute (AKS). The regulation proposed would allow approved clinical trials to compensate trial participants for non-medical indirect costs incurred by patients; for example, travel expenses like fuel, parking, lodging, etc, without violating the AKS or Beneficiary Inducement Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP).  The goal would be to remove barriers to clinical trial participation, especially for low-income or rural patients, by covering some costs that may prevent them from participating. Clinical trial sponsors could offer direct payments or stipends that would all be subject to oversight from an IRB. Further, this regulation would apply only to approved clinical trials conducted in relation to the prevention, detection, or treatment of cancer or other life-threatening disease or condition. View Letter

“Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act” included in an end-of-year legislative package

November 28, 2022

The National Society of Genetic Counselors is asking Congress to include the “Access to Genetic Counselor Services Act” in the end-of-year legislative package. The legislation will allow Medicare to directly reimburse genetic counselors, increasing beneficiaries’ access to genetic counselors. View Letter

Increased funding for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for FY 2024

November 1, 2022

Letter to the Office of Management and Budget requesting a funding increase for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in its staffing and administrative support for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). With a larger budget, USPSTF could complete more reviews, modify its processes, and adapt to medical advancements more quickly. View Letter

One Voice Against Cancer Sign-on Letter Requesting Congress Complete FY23 Appropriations

October 20, 2022

Letter urging Congress to complete their work on the FY 23 spending bills to avoid further delay and disruptions that are caused by continuing resolutions. Additionally, the letter requests that Congress prioritize funding for cancer research and prevention, including increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). View Letter

A Letter Requesting Congress to Complete FY23 Appropriations

September 19, 2022

Letter urging Congress to complete their work on the FY23 spending bills as quickly as possible to avoid the delays and disruptions that are caused by continuing resolutions. View Letter

A Letter to Ensure Medicare Access to Complete Colorectal Cancer Screening

September 6, 2022

A letter to help urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize a proposed rule to ensure Medicare patients don’t face out-of-pocket costs when needing a colonoscopy following a positive non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test. View Letter

Letter in Support of Removing Barriers to Biomarker Testing

September 1, 2022

A letter to Governor Newsom outlining the need and benefits of removing barriers to biomarker testing. Precision medicine greatly improves patients’ health outcomes and quality of life. Biomarker testing is critical in connecting patients to more targeted and effective treatments. SB 912 would align insurance coverage with the latest medical evidence as well as decrease health disparities, including access to quality care. View Letter

Letter in Support of Legislation to Increase Diversity in Clinical Trials

July 11, 2022

A coalition letter to House and Senate Committee leaders urging them to include legislation to increase diversity in clinical trials in a bill to renew prescription drug user fees. View Letter

Letter to House & Senate Leadership in Support of Health Provisions in Budget Reconciliation Bill

June 30, 2022

Letter signed by a group of cancer advocacy organizations in support of a budget reconciliation bill that included a permanent extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, fixing the Medicaid coverage gap and enacting a cap on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries.

Letter to State Legislators in Support of Biomarker Legislation

June 7, 2022

A coalition letter to state legislators urging them to support legislation in their state to ensure access to biomarker testing for all patients who need it. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Committee Leadership in Support of Policies to Increase Diversity in Clinical Trials

May 11, 2022

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to the leadership of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee urging them to include policies to increase diversity of clinical trials as part of legislation to reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. View Letter

Statement in Support of Robust Funding for NIH in FY23 Appropriations Bill

May 10, 2022

A coalition statement led by the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research in support of $49.048 billion for the base budget for the National Institutes of Health in the FY23 appropriations bill. The letter also urged lawmakers to ensure that any funding for thenew Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) supplement our $49 billion recommendation for NIH’s base budget, rather than supplant the essential foundational investment in the NIH. View Letter

Letter to President and Vice President in Support of the Cancer Drug Parity Act

April 1, 2022

A coalition letter led by the Coalition to Improve Access to Cancer Care to President Biden and Vice President Harris in support of the Cancer Moonshot and urging them to support the Cancer Drug Parity Act which would ensure that federally-regulated group health plans provide coverage for cancer treatments, allows patients taking self-administered anticancer medicines to benefit from the same level of cost-sharing as they would have if they were administered an IV, port administered or injected cancer medication. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act

March 24, 2022

A coalition letter led by cancer patient advocacy organizations to House and Senate leadership in support of the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act, legislation that would ensure Medicare beneficiary access to genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk, increased screening and risk reducing interventions, when medically necessary and appropriate. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of Cancer Moonshot

February 25, 2022

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to House and Senate leadership in support of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership Urging Swift Passage of FY22 Appropriations Bill

February 2, 2022

A coalition letter led by One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) to the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging swift passage of the FY2022 appropriations bill. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of Comprehensive Tele-health Reform

January 31, 2022

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to House and Senate leadership in support of permanent, comprehensive tele-health reform. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of Expanding Tele-health Benefits

January 21, 2022

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to House and Senate leadership urging them to reinstate policy changes that allowed 32 million Americans in the employer market with high-deductible health plans coupled with Health Savings Accounts (HDHP-HSAs) to receive tele-health benefits from their employer or health plan pre-deductible. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Committee Leadership in Support of Expanding Tele-health Benefits

January 14, 2022

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to the leadership of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee urging them to reinstate policy changes that allowed 32 million Americans in the employer market with high-deductible health plans coupled with Health Savings Accounts (HDHP-HSAs) to receive tele-health benefits from their employer or health plan pre-deductible. View Letter

Letter to Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. Fred Upton in Support of Including Patient Experience Data Policies in the 21st Century Cures 2.0 Legislation

December 30, 2021

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. Fred Upton providing comments on the 21st Century Cures 2.0 legislation. The letter applauds the inclusion of Title II, Section 204, Patient Experience Data, Subsection (b), Collection, Submission, and Use of Data that will ensure standardized patient experience data (PED) are consistently collected, submitted, and considered in clinical trials. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of NIH Funding for FY22

November 15, 2021

A coalition letter led by the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research to the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to provide robust funding for the National Institutes of Health in the FY22 appropriations bill. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership in Support of the Diversifying Investigations Via Equitable Research Studies for Everyone (DIVERSE) Trials Act

November 15, 2021

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees as well as the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in support of the Diversifying Investigations Via Equitable Research Studies for Everyone (DIVERSE) Trials Act which would would make it easier for all patients to participate in clinical trials while removing barriers that are known to keep certain racial and ethnic groups, older adults, rural residents, and those with limited incomes from being appropriately represented. View Letter

Letter to Governors in Support of Maintaining Licensure Flexibilities

October 28, 2021

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to the governors of all 50 states urging them to to maintain and expand licensure flexibilities for the duration of the federal public health emergency, reinstating licensure flexibilities if they have expired or implementing new flexibilities to better address patient needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. View Letter

Letter to Rep. Linda Sanchez Thanking Her for her Leadership on the Credit for Caring Act

September 29, 2021

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to Rep. Linda Sanchez expressing gratitude for her support for the Credit for Caring Act in which would create a new, non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $2,000 for eligible family caregivers to help address the financial challenges of caregiving. View Letter

Letter to House Leadership in Support of the Credit for Caring Act

September 29, 2021

A coalition letter led by patient advocacy organizations to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy expressing support for the Credit for Caring Act in which would create a new, non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $2,000 for eligible family caregivers to help address the financial challenges of caregiving. View Letter

Letter to CMS Commenting on Medicare Payment Policies

September 13, 2021

A coalition letter led by the Cancer Leadership Council commenting on the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies. View Letter

Letter to CMS in Support of Policies to Increase Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening

September 10, 2021

A letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) commenting on Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies. The letter expresses support for timely implementation of the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act as well as urges CMS to cover colonoscopy without cost-sharing after a positive non-invasive screening test. View Letter

Letter to the Tri Agencies Urging Coverage for Colonoscopy Following a Positive Non-Invasive Screening Test

August 12, 2021

A letter from Fight Colorectal Cancer, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the American Gastroenterological Association to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury urging them to provide written guidance to private health insurance plans requiring them to cover colonoscopy following an abnormal non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test. View Letter

Letter to Rep. Diane DeGette and Rep. Fred Upton to Provide Input on the 21st Century Cures 2.0 Legislation

July 30, 2021

A coalition letter of cancer patient advocacy organizations to Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. Fred Upton to provide input and feedback on the 21st Century Cures 2.0 legislation. View Letter

Letter to House and Senate Leadership with Recommendations for Legislation for Medicare Coverage of Tele-health Services

July 26, 2021

A coalition letter of patient advocacy organizations to House and Senate leadership outlining recommendations for legislation for Medicare coverage of tele-health services. View Letter

Letter to White House Office of Science and Technology Policy With Recommendations for ARPA-H

July 16, 2021

A coalition letter led by One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) to Dr. Eric Lander, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy with recommendations for how ARPA-H should be designed and operated. View Letter

Letter to California State Assembly in Support of Legislation to Remove Barriers to Biomarker Testing if Amended

June 30, 2021

A letter to California State Assemblyman Jim Wood, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee urging him to support SB 535, a bill to remove barriers to biomarker testing if it is amended. View Letter

Letter to President Biden in Support of the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act

March 24, 2021

A letter led by a coalition of patient advocacy organizations to President Biden urging him to support the Research Investment to Spark the Economy Act (RISE) Act which would would provide $25 billion to help restore our nation’s research capacity to its pre-pandemic strength, prevent setbacks, and further the goal of a robust, diverse, and inclusive STEM workforce. View Letter

Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Leadership in Support of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention

March 17, 2021

A letter led by a coalition of chronic disease groups to Sen. Patty Murray, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Sen. Roy Blunt, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting $3.75 billion for the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention.

Letter to House Appropriations Committee Leadership in Support of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention

March 17, 2021

A letter led by a coalition of chronic disease groups to Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. Tom Cole, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee requesting $3.75 billion for the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention.

Letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services About Patient Impact of Medicare Part D Modernization Models

February 5, 2021

A coalition letter led by the Cancer Leadership Council to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding flexibilities for Medicare Part D sponsors who participate in the Medicare Part D Payment Modernization models and their potential impact on cancer patients. View Letter

Letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services About Patient Impact of Medicare Part D Modernization Models

February 4, 2021

A coalition letter to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding flexibilities for Medicare Part D sponsors who participate in the Medicare Part D Payment Modernization models and their potential impact on patients. View Letter

Statement Urging a Return to Cancer Screening

January 28, 2021

A coalition statement led by the American Cancer Society and National Comprehensive Cancer Network urging a return to cancer screening amid the COVID-19 pandemic. View Letter

Letter to CDC Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Cancer Patients

January 27, 2021

A comment letter led by the Cancer Leadership Council to Dr. Jose Romero, Chair of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices at the CDC highlighting special considerations needed when developing guidance around the COVID-19 vaccine for cancer patients. View Letter

Letter to Governors Regarding Prioritization of Cancer Patients for COVID-19 Vaccines

January 26, 2021

A coalition letter led by the All Cancers Congress to the governors of all 50 states regarding prioritizing cancer patients in COVID-19 vaccine distribution. View Letter