Don’t Cut Access to Care for Cancer Patients
--The American Society of Clinical Oncology Calls on Congress and the Administration to Abandon Proposed Cuts as Part of Debt Ceiling Negotiations--
As the leading professional society for oncologists, ASCO is deeply concerned that proposed cuts to Medicare reimbursement as part of a debt ceiling negotiation package will seriously harm access to care for millions of cancer patients throughout the U. S.
The more than 50 percent of patients who are over the age of 65 and are treated in local, community-based practices will be hit the hardest by these cuts. Previous cuts to Medicare have already caused oncology practices to close, consolidate and turn away Medicare patients.
The problem is only exacerbated by the fact that nearly two-thirds of all cancer diagnoses in the U. S. are in people over the age of 65, the primary recipients of Medicare coverage. These patients are often already living on a fixed income, and being forced to travel outside their local communities will hinder their access to care and drive their costs up.
ASCO recognizes the importance of fiscal health for our nation. But it shouldn’t come at the price of cancer patients’ health.
What ASCO is Doing to Prevent Cuts to Medicare:
- ASCO has placed print and online advertisements in Capitol Hill publications including, The Hill,Politico,CQand Roll Call
- Letters to President Obama and Congressional leaders have been sent, urging them to abandon any Medicare cuts as part of a debt ceiling negotiation package;
- ASCO's State/Regional Affiliates have mobilized and reached out to their respective Congressional delegation;
- ASCO has signed on to a joint press release with other coalition members who are working to protect access to cancer care;
- Individual ASCO members are working through ASCO's ACT Network to contact elected officials in their states and districts.
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