Cancer Clinical Trials Legislation

A friend sent me this call to action today to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (L&LS). Why is it important? Well, Myelodysplasia used to be classified as a "syndrome" but more recently has been reclassified as a blood "cancer" by the L&LS and the American Cancer Society. This means that people who suffer from Myelodysplasia are now able to have access to any patient services offered through the L&LS. Add to that for many people with cancer and other diseases, when their doctors run out of known treatments to try to save them, a clinical trial offers people a last hope for themselves, and moves the field of medicine forward for all future patients creating new proven methods of treatment for those who reach a point that was once considered terminal.

Please read the rest and contact your local representatives to ask them to support this legislation. I just did it and it's SO EASY! It took less then a minute and it looks up who to send the messages to when you enter your address :)

___________________________________________________________

Act Now - Urge Congress to Co-Sponsor Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Legislation

Clinical trials are a critical part of the process in finding superior treatments for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Many cancer patients face barriers that limit their ability to enroll in a clinical trial. One such barrier is the refusal of many insurance companies to cover what are known as “routine care costs” – such as doctor visits, blood draws and in-patient care – if a patient enrolls in a clinical trial. But, these costs would be covered for patients taking standard, often unsuccessful, cancer therapies.

Take action now! Urge your representatives to support legislation that would eliminate this barrier to patient enrollment in clinical trials.

LLS has been working in several states to pass legislation that would require insurance companies operating in those states to cover these routine care costs for patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials. However, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) have introduced legislation (S. 488 and H.R. 716, respectively) that would expand upon those state efforts. These bills would prevent health care plans – both state-based and ERISA-based – from denying patients enrolled in clinical trials services that would have been covered under their plan had they participated in what is considered standard therapy. These bills are the most comprehensive bills addressing this problem, to date, and would cover all Americans with health coverage.

As an advocate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, your help is needed. Please contact your elected officials and ask them to co-sponsor S. 488 or H.R. 716 now! You can even personalize your message so that your elected officials understand fully your connection to the disease and the important role that clinical trials plays in finding a cure for cancer.

Forward this message to a friend.

Please, act now!