WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act. This “human infrastructure” bill includes several provisions that would expand the country’s social safety net by funding critical health and social programs that would improve the lives of people across the country, including those impacted by cancer.

“We applaud the House passage of the Build Back Better Act and urge the U.S. Senate to quickly take up and pass the bill so that people impacted by cancer can start benefiting from these historic investments,” said Dr. Elizabeth Franklin, President of the Cancer Support Community.

Specifically, the bill would create a paid family and medical leave program that provides four weeks of federal paid parental, sick, or caregiver leave to workers. The bill would also expand advanced premium tax credits available under the Affordable Care Act through 2025 so that more people, including cancer patients and survivors, have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage. Additionally, the Build Back Better Act would take steps to close the Medicaid coverage gap for the more than 2.2 million adults, including many with cancer living in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid.

“We were pleased to see that the Build Back Better Act included a cap on Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs, which would protect Medicare recipients from high prescription drug costs. This bill takes critical steps toward ensuring that all people have access to affordable, comprehensive, and high-quality health care,” said Dr. Franklin. “We look forward to working with Congress to improve the health and economic security for the millions of people impacted by cancer.”

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization’s Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care includes an international network of affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793- 9355.

Virtual Summit features health equity experts, Biden Administration officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Cancer Support Community (CSC) convenes its 3rd Annual Utilization Management Summit this Tuesday, November 16, at 1 p.m. ET.

This year’s Summit focuses on health equity, and features a keynote address from Dr. Karen Winkfield, Executive Director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, and recent appointee to the White House’s National Cancer Advisory Board.

The Summit is the cornerstone event of the CSC’s Forum on Utilization Management, which was formed in 2019 to focus on the impact of utilization management practices, such as prior authorization, clinical pathways, and step therapy, on patient access and affordability to care. Bringing together more than 100 health care professionals, patient advocate organizations, and various stakeholders in the utilization management space, this year’s Summit will examine how utilization management practices can increase health disparities.

“The Utilization Management Summit is a part of CSC’s ongoing commitment to examining the healthcare system from every angle to identify factors that contribute to and widen existing health disparities,” said Phylicia L. Woods, Executive Director of the Cancer Support Community’s Cancer Policy Institute.

Dr. Danielle Carnival, Senior Advisor to the Director at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, will also offer brief remarks at the Summit, which marks her first public engagement since being appointed to this post by President Biden.

Following remarks from Drs. Winkfield and Carnival, Eucharia Borden, Senior Director of Health Equity at CSC, will moderate a panel discussion with healthcare leaders:

• Adrienne Simmons, PharmD, MS, BCPS, AAHIVP, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, a program of HEP
• Gary Puckrein, PhD, National Minority Quality Forum
• Krista Nelson, LCSW, OSW-C, BCD, FAOSW, Association of Community Cancer Centers
• Surya Singh, MD, Singh Healthcare Advisors, LLC

About the Cancer Support Community

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization’s Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care includes an international network of affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793- 9355.