Ensure Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Care

239 Letters and Emails Sent So Far

Ensure Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Care

I am writing to express concern about the proposal by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cut Medicare payments to cancer care providers, such as hematologists/oncologists, nuclear medicine specialists, urologists and radiation therapists, beginning in calendar year (CY) 2010. As you may know, over 25% of the total proposed cuts in 2010 will be directed towards the above specialists.

President Obama recently pledged that the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), "will launch a new effort to conquer a disease that has touched the life of nearly every American, including me, by seeking a cure for cancer in our time". Thus, it is perplexing that the cuts outlined by CMS will negatively impact cancer patients, making advances in cancer care more difficult to deliver.

To be successful in the very personal war against cancer, each patient must have access to the full range of cancer therapies, to cure cancer, to control the growth of cancer, or to relieve pain and other cancer symptoms. It is imperative that the continued achievements of various cancer care therapies be made available to all Medicare patients.

I urge CMS to refrain from finalizing the reductions in Medicare payment for cancer care providers, as proposed in the CY 2010 Physician Fee Schedule Rule.

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March 11, 2012    link
Dave W. from Charleston, WV signed.
March 9, 2012    link
Jo M. from Arizona City, AZ writes:
We are spending so much money on treatments that aren't successful like conventional medicine uses, lets holistically CURE patients.
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March 4, 2012    link
Lois P. from Phoenix, AZ signed.
February 22, 2012    link
Sally S. from Spring, TX writes:
The message from President Obama seems to be that he "will launch a new effort to conquer a disease.....FOR OUR NON-RETIRED POPULATION, for they deserve it more. Citizens who are responsible for our very existence, for the support of our economy for a proportionately greater time than we, and who have paid longer into the same retirement healthcare system that most of us (other than myself) pay into now, will not be eligible for the healthcare for which “we” will be eligible, for the importance of our senior citizens’ healthcare differs from our own.”

There are no healthcare options for persons over 65 other than Medicare and affiliated insurance programs, no matter how much you contribute (unless by chance alone you worked for a company that provides continuing coverage for retired employees). Retired citizens will go to the "back of the line" in cancer care if CMS reduces Medicare payments for cancer care providers. It will then be economically unfeasible for those providers to give Medicare patients the same care as non-retired patients. God willing, all non-retired citizens will one day be retired persons/senior citizens. Those that advocate this reduction will then deserve the same medical care considerations that they are willing to give seniors of today. “What goes around, come around”. How sad that we seniors are biologically responsible for these advocates of inferior healthcare for retired persons.
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February 20, 2012    link
Saghir S. from San Diego, CA signed.
November 9, 2011    link
Bonny T. from Destin, FL signed.
November 5, 2011    link
Christine M. from New Baltimore, MI signed.
November 4, 2011    link
Nari K. from Prospect, KY signed.
October 25, 2011    link
G.Jennifer C. from Hallandale, FL signed.
October 20, 2011    link
jill w. from Warrensburg, MO signed.
October 19, 2011    link
Someone from Brooklyn, NY signed.
October 18, 2011    link
Jeremy W. from Decatur, GA signed.
October 10, 2011    link
Someone from Detroit, MI signed.
September 20, 2011    link
Someone from Crestwood, KY writes:
do not finalize the reduction in medicare for cancer patient providers
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September 19, 2011    link
William and Cheryl L. from Utica, NY signed.
September 11, 2011    link
Diana K. from Alden, NY writes:
I thank Obama because he has already made a difference in my Sons lives. Health Care is in reform and I have noticed a difference. I just pray all his bills get passed, Obama is the only president I understand when he gives his inaugural speeches. I only hope the parties follow his direction we will all be better off. I will vote for him next term.
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August 31, 2011    link
alex s. from Gouldsboro, PA signed.
August 19, 2011    link
GRETCHEN D. from Brooklyn, NY signed.
August 13, 2011    link
joe B. from Atlanta, GA signed.
August 5, 2011    link
Someone from Charleston, WV signed.