October 19, 2001
Dear Senator/Representative:
Recent years have seen remarkable advances in cancer care, not just in clinical responses to drug therapy but also in pain and symptom management and psycho-social support. These advances should not be placed in jeopardy by sudden and significant changes in the reimbursement system like those apparently under consideration by some in Congress.
Everyone in the cancer community -- patients and physicians alike -- agrees that the current system of Medicare reimbursement for cancer drug therapy is broken. But this is a problem of many years' duration, and Congress has not previously moved to address overpayments for drugs because it has recognized that it cannot do so without correcting the corresponding issue of underpayment for providing chemotherapy to cancer patients.
Now, apparently to achieve savings for other purposes, the matter has been moved to high priority status, even though studies mandated by Congress have not been performed and Congress thus lacks the tools necessary to make an informed decision.
First in 1999 and then again in 2000, Congress gave the General Accounting Office (GAO) the assignment of conducting studies to ascertain the complete costs of providing chemotherapy in the physician office setting, as well as the impact of reimbursement reductions on patient care. Specifically, GAO was instructed to develop, based on its study, recommendations for Medicare payment revision "designed to ensure that medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to health care services under the medicare program." Section 429, Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000.
As reflected in GAO's recent
testimony before Congress, the studies apparently have not been carried out
as Congress intended, and the answers to these important questions remain unavailable.
Most importantly, there is nothing to "ensure that medicare beneficiaries
[will] continue to have access to health care services."
No knowledgeable observer of cancer care believes that physicians can continue providing the same level of care if reimbursement is substantially reduced. Such reductions could create dislocations that will have an impact beyond physician offices and result in changes in patterns of care that could threaten to overwhelm hospital outpatient departments and exert a serious negative impact on access to quality cancer care.
We understand that there is impatience on the part of some in Congress about this issue and that there are many claims upon any potential savings. It is imperative, however, that savings not be achieved at the expense of patient access and quality cancer care. We therefore urge you, in the strongest possible terms, not to rush to adopt reductions in payment for cancer drugs without corresponding increases in payment for chemotherapy administration to ensure that cancer patients are not deprived of their access to optimal cancer care.
Sincerely,
Cancer Leadership Council
Alliance for Lung Cancer
Advocacy Support, and Education
American Cancer Society
Cancer Care, Inc.
The Children's Cause, Inc.
Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups
Colorectal Cancer Network
Cure For Lymphoma Foundation
The Foundation for the Children's Oncology Group
International Myeloma Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Patient Advocate Foundation
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The Wellness Community
US TOO! International, Inc.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
cc:
Energy & Commerce
Committee
Ways & Means Committee
Senate Finance Committee
Contact:
Ellen Stovall, Executive
Director
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
1010 Wayne Avenue - 7th Floor
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Phone: 301/650-9127
Fax: 301/565-9670