Vol. 1, No. 1
Welcome to the first Update. Topics Include:
- Brain Tumor Advocates Call upon Congress to Maintain Funding for NIH
- Showdown Over Federal Deficit Reduction and Debt Limit Continues
- Provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that Impact Brain Tumor Patients
- How to Sign Up To Become an Advocate
Brain Tumor Advocates Call Upon Congress to Maintain Funding For NIH
Throughout May, June, and now July – National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) volunteers have been steadfast in their advocacy for bio-medical research funding. As you may know while NBTS and other brain tumor related organizations raise millions of dollars to invest in research to find new therapies to treat brain tumors, the federal government through NIH invests billions of dollars in cancer-related medical research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Hundreds of brain tumor advocates have called and written their Members of Congress to urge them to maintain and even increase funding for the NIH, which includes the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In addition, NBTS sent letters to the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate urging legislators to maintain support for medical research needed to find new therapies. Brain tumor survivor and team leader, BethAnn Telford said “We must continue to advocate and be consistent about what we want Congress to do. We need medical research on brain tumors to get the support it needs.”
In July, all volunteers are asked to write their Members of Congress to urge them to support research funding and oppose cuts to NIH and NCI. Let us know if you would like help writing a letter. In August, we have a great advocacy opportunity for anyone interested. Schedule a local meeting with your Members of Congress when they are back home, in their state and district, to urge them to fight for the brain tumor community. Sign up to receive a toolkit to help carry out a local meeting.
Showdown Over Federal Deficit Reduction and Debt Limit Continues
President Obama and Congress continue to debate how to reduce the size of the federal deficit prior to the August 2 deadline when the U.S. government must raise the amount of debt it allows itself to carry or risk defaulting on certain loans. While a clearly polarizing issue, the pressure of a deadline is forcing elected leaders to come together for daily meetings to determine if a deal is possible. On the table for proposed cuts are Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They are clearly major programs of interest to the brain tumor community so we will be monitoring policy proposals as they are developed. The House of Representatives has advanced several appropriations bills but has not finished drafting a bill providing funding for NIH. At least temporarily, the Senate is delaying its schedule on appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2012 until the larger budget and debt limit debate is resolved. For the brain tumor community it means we must stay consistent in our message to Congress that medical research to find new therapies for brain tumor patients should be a high priority. I will keep you posted on the larger budget debate and how it impacts us.
Provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Now In Effect That Impact Brain Tumor Patients (2010-July 2011)
The PPACA, commonly known as health care reform, became law in March 2010. While many of the larger provisions including the requirement of individuals to purchase health insurance and coverage of treatment related to a clinical trial are scheduled to become law in 2014, there are several provisions that have gone into effect that relate to brain tumor patients directly and indirectly through states. They are:
- States received federal funding in 2010 to cover some additional low-income residents under Medicaid who were not previously able to be covered using federal dollars.
- Eligible seniors facing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” began to receive a one-time tax-free rebate check of $250.
- The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan was established to cover persons who have been uninsured for at least six months as a bridge until 2014 when denial of health insurance because of a pre-existing condition will be completely prohibited. Note: NBTS supports the elimination of the six-month waiting period.
- Young adults are now allowed to remain on their parents’ insurance plan until age 26.
- Health insurance companies are prohibited from rescinding coverage.
- A right to appeal a denial for coverage or treatment under health insurance has been established.
- Lifetime dollar limits on insurance coverage for essential benefits is prohibited.
- The use of annual dollar limits on benefits provided by health insurance is greatly restricted.
- Health insurance plans are prohibited from denying coverage to children under age 19.
- Seniors can receive a 50 percent discount when purchasing Medicare Part D covered brand-name medicines.
- Seniors on Medicare can receive free annual wellness visits to the doctor.
Please see www.healthcare.gov for more details on specific provisions of the PPACA.
We Want You! How to Sign Up To Become An Advocate
National Brain Tumor Society’s Advocacy program is a vehicle for speaking up for the policies we need from government to help find new therapies and improve treatment for brain tumor patients. We invite you to join us and learn more. Sign up to become an advocate today. Together we can make a difference in the fight against brain tumors.
Thank you for your commitment.
David
