With highly publicized debates regarding health care reform, one issue that has not been addressed is the government’s cuts to Medicare payments for cancer care. These cuts are by an overwhelming 25% since 2004.

Here are a few examples:

Starting 2010 through 2013 cuts will be made that will ultimately lead to a 20% reduction in payments for life-saving cancer drugs

Payment cuts for imaging tests such as PET and CT scans that are used to detect and manage cancer

A 21% cut in payments for all physicians’ services that goes into effect March 2010

When you take in to account that 84% of Americans with cancer are treated by local cancer centers; cuts in Medicare not only affect the longevity of those with cancer but can also lead to unemployment that could cripple small communities. About 50% of cancer treatment is paid by Medicare, so it is obvious that a reduction in payout by Medicare will increase a cancer centers expenses. When the operating costs are greater than the revenue, many of these clinics will be forced to reduce staff or even close all together. Joseph Verdirame, M.D. wrote in the Omaha World-Herald “Medicare currently reimburses us at less than our acquisition cost for nearly half of the cancer drugs we administer. If the difference is small, we are able to treat the patient in our office. But if the difference is large or the patient has no Medicare supplemental insurance, we are forced to refer him or her to the hospital for chemotherapy. Some of the rural hospitals we deal with also do not have the wherewithal to treat these patients. We are willing to give away our time, but we cannot afford to give away expensive cancer drugs forever. If we did, we would be out of business. Can we really afford to lose the source of 84% of America’s cancer treatment options?

From this information, you can easily see how this may affect you, your family, and your community. If you feel a call to action and want to help, we have a solution for you! Our only opportunity to stop this process is to contact your elected officials and make it known that you want to maintain the best survival rate and quality of life in the event that you have or are diagnosed with cancer. Here are two ways you can accomplish that:

Sign the Community Oncology Alliance “Petition to Stop Cancer Care Cuts” http://www.communityoncology.org/coa-petition/

Search Congress.org to find the contact information for your elected officials to email, call and write so they know where the people that put them in their position stand on this important issue. http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress/?lvl=C&azip=Your%20ZIP%20code%20here

If you need ideas on communicating with an elected official then use this link http://www.congress.org/communicate

This is not about crossing party lines or political statements. This is about the treatment of Americans that have and will get cancer and making sure that the fight to survive is not extinguished by bureaucracy.

References:

http://www.omaha.com/article/20091222/NEWS0802/712229979

http://www.communityoncology.org/coa-mission-statement/?section=aboutcoa