Download information piece - Community Oncology Alliance

Take Action to Stop the
Sequester Cut to Cancer Care
What is “sequestration?”
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A special committee of Congress tried but failed to reduce government spending and that kicked in
automatic spending cuts made to healthcare, defense, education, and other government programs.
These automatic spending cuts are referred to as “sequestration.”
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Among the sequester cuts is an overall reduction in government payments for cancer drugs.
How is the sequester cut hurting cancer care?
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The government’s cuts to cancer care have already hurt community cancer care in this country.
Over 1,300 cancer clinics have closed, merged into health systems, or are in financial difficulty.
This limits access to cancer care and drives up costs to both patients and their insurance. This is
not just a problem that affects seniors covered by Medicare; it affects all cancer patients.
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The sequester cut to cancer care is resulting in many cancer drugs being
paid for by the government and insurance companies at less than their
costs. It is impossible for a cancer clinic to continue providing treatment
when the costs of these drugs are higher than what the government and
insurance companies pay for them.
What can I do?
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You can join us in calling and emailing members of Congress in the
House of Representatives to deliver a simple, but powerful message — Stop the Sequester Cut to
Cancer Care. There is a bill already in the House – the Cancer Patient Protection Act (referred to
by its bill number of H.R. 1416) – that would stop the sequester cut to cancer drugs. This bill
needs to be passed immediately. In order to make that happen, we need as many supporters
(cosponsors) as possible. A list of the over 100 H.R. 1416 cosponsors is available.
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We have made a list of all the House Representatives covered by our clinic, which will include
your Congressman or Congresswoman. If you are unsure who that is, you can go to
http://capwiz.com/coacancer and enter your home zip code for their name. See the following page
for the list and simple instructions.
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Please call your Representative and ask him/her to Stop the Sequester Cut to Cancer Care. Ask
your Representative to please cosponsor H.R. 1416, if they have not already cosponsored the bill.
If your Representative has cosponsored H.R. 1416, thank them and ask to get their colleagues to
sponsor the bill.
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Please also send an email to your Representative. You can do that very easily by following the
instructions on the next page about contacting your members of Congress.
Contacting you members of Congress is easy!
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Each of us has one (1) member of the House of Representatives, either a Congressman or
Congresswoman. The names and phone numbers for all of the Representatives covered by our
practice location(s) and patients are listed below. If you are unsure who that is, you can go to
http://capwiz.com/coacancer and enter your home zip code for their name. This is a very useful
tool.
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Make calls to both the Washington, DC and state/local offices of your Congressman or
Congresswoman, as listed below. With all the calls they receive, you likely will not be able to
speak directly with your Representative, but try. However, it is very important that you deliver the
message to their staff for your Congressman or Congresswoman.
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The message is very simple — Please Stop the Sequester Cut to Cancer Care. If you have not
done so already, join over 100 other Representatives in Cosponsoring H.R. 1416.
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The information on the first page will help you explain the issue. If you want more detailed
background information, please ask us.
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Also, send an email to your Representative and encourage your friends to send emails. Go to
www.communityoncology.org and click on the box below the Legislative Action Area button to
send an email using the pre-written message or one you write.
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There is a saying that is so true in Washington, DC — the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We are
fighting for our patients as we do every day. We appreciate your help!
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