Legislators Introduce Bill for Cancer Survivorship
U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act in December 2022 to address gaps in survivorship care (https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/uploadedfiles/the_comprehensive_cancer_survivorship_act_ccsa_one_pager.pdf) and formulate standards to improve quality of care (https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/uploadedfiles/the_comprehensive_cancer_survivorship_act_ccsa_one_pager.pdf) and navigation for cancer survivors (https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/uploadedfiles/the_comprehensive_cancer_survivorship_act_ccsa_one_pager.pdf).
The legislation’s key components (https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/uploadedfiles/the_comprehensive_cancer_survivorship_act_ccsa_one_pager.pdf) include:
- Providing coverage for transition to primary care to help develop survivorship care plans, standardize processes, and consolidate treatments
- Studying current reimbursement landscape to develop alternative payment models
- Developing effective and comprehensive navigation services that emphasize the continuum of care
- Establishing grants to promote various aspects of care, including transitioning to primary care, using care plans, and collecting patient experience data
- Establishing workforce assistance grants to help survivors, families, and caregivers
- Creating resources for survivors and healthcare professionals to promote early detection, preventive care, and quality services
“Living with or surviving cancer is personal for so many families across our nation, and, thanks to increased access to preventive care, which leads to early detection, the rate of cancer survivorship continues to grow,” Cardin said (https://www.cardin.senate.gov/press-releases/wasserman-schultz-klobuchar-cardin-fitzpatrick-and-desaulnier-lead-cancer-survivorship-bill/). “Our legislation recognizes the importance of investing in improving quality of life and long-term care of cancer survivors who have bravely fought and won their battles against cancer.”
ONS worked with lead sponsors Wasserman Shultz and Fitzpatrick as the policymakers crafted the bill.
Survivorship care is an essential part of a patient’s overall cancer care (https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy/position-statements/access-quality-cancer). Promoting and advocating for legislation that advances survivorship care helps support patients on their cancer journey (https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy/position-statements/access-quality-cancer).