NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
2001
NPAF Seeks Balanced Reform of Medicare Reimbursement and Protection of Access to Quality Care
Medicare Coverage of Oral Anti-Cancer Drugs
Medical Funding Research Successs
Congress Set to Act on Bioterrorism Initiatives
U P D A T E
NPAF SEEKS BALANCED REFORM OF MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT
AND PROTECTION OF ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE
Congress and the Bush Administration are involved in a number of initiatives
to revise Medicare payment rates for oncology and other medical services.
This includes payment for covered prescription drugs, hospital outpatient
services and drugs that are not usually self-administered. NPAF is taking
an active role in helping to shape public policy to ensure that patient
access and quality of care are not compromised. NPAF has conducted numerous
meetings with
Members of Congress and their staff as well as key administration officials
to provide patient data analyses, convey our principles for reform and
to express
our concerns from the patient prospective.
NPAF UPDATE
Medicare Coverage
of
Oral Anti-cancer Drugs
Prospects appear to have diminished for passage of legislation to provide Medicare coverage for oral anti-cancer drugs as proposed in H.R. 1624 and S. 913. While the legislation has strong bipartisan support, with 233 House co-sponsors and 30 Senate cosponsors, the September 11 attack on our nation have forced lawmakers to focus their attention and priorities on national security, economic stability and health issues related to the attack.
NPAF continues to believe this legislation could serve as an important initial step in providing Medicare beneficiaries with a comprehensive prescreption drug benefit. We encourage our friends to contact members of Congress to ask them to cosponsor these important bills. NPAF has met with numerous members of Congress on this important issue and will continue to monitor progress on this important issue.
NPAF UPDATE
Medical Research
Funding Success
On November 6, 2001, the United States Senate passed legislation which included a 15% increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will serve as the fourth installment of a five-year plan, supported by NPAF and the health care community at large, to double the budget for NIH. For fiscal year 2002, the Senate has provided $23.7 billion for NIH; the House of Representatives has provided $22.9 billion. NPAF joined the Cancer Research Foundation of America and members of the Cancer Leadership Council in supporting the Senate proposal for NIH funding. The funding provision was included in legislation to provided fiscal year 2002 appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Education and related agencies. Members of the Senate and House of Representatives must resolve the difference in the proposed funding levels. A financial decision is anticipated by the end of the year.