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mainsailset View Drop Down
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    Posted: Apr 06 2013 at 6:19pm
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/04/1819811/sequestration-cancer-clinics/   It's becoming clear that some of our sisters who rely on Medicare coverage to pay for their medical and specifically chemo treatments are seeing the Sequester's effects on their chemo treatments. Medicare cannot fix this. The clinics cannot fix this. Only Congress can.
 
Please consider supporting members here who rely on Medicare by calling your Congressperson and asking that Congress take up this issue.
dx 7/08 TN 14x6.5x5.5 cm tumor

3 Lymph nodes involved, Taxol/Sunitab+AC, 5/09 dbl masectomy, path 2mm tumor removed, lymphs all clear, RAD 32 finished 9/11/09. 9/28 CT clear 10/18/10 CT clear
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123Donna View Drop Down
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Points: 13510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 123Donna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr 06 2013 at 10:38pm
Mainy,

I read about the effect the Sequester has on Medicare, especially patients needing chemo.  How terrible!  Congress needs to get their act together now.  Maybe they need to lose their health insurance too?  If they stopped receiving a paycheck and healthcare coverage, I bet they'd find a way to work together and come up with a compromise.  Hmmm. . . .

Donna
DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15
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Grateful for today View Drop Down
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Mainy,

Thanks for posting.

Thought it might be helpful to post the links to find one's US Senator or US Representative.

US Senate:     http://www.senate.gov/
     At top of page:   "Find your Senators".    Use drop down to find one's state.

US House Representative:    http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/#listrep
      On link, just put in one's zip code.


Grateful for today...........Judy
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mainsailset View Drop Down
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Points: 5004 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mainsailset Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr 07 2013 at 9:52am
Thanks Judy, nowadays one can pick up the phone or shoot them an email. The staff does keep track of the incoming calls and emails and rates them as to interest of constituents so your call and/or emails are tallied.
 
Without the full Medicare reimbursement every clinic will see their business overall stressed and layoffs of those wonderful nurses and support staff may start to happen.
 
Here's a link from Harvard Law that outlines cuts to cancer research, hospital care, etc.   http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/billofhealth/2013/02/26/impact-of-the-sequester-on-health-care-by-the-numbers/


Edited by mainsailset - Apr 07 2013 at 9:58am
dx 7/08 TN 14x6.5x5.5 cm tumor

3 Lymph nodes involved, Taxol/Sunitab+AC, 5/09 dbl masectomy, path 2mm tumor removed, lymphs all clear, RAD 32 finished 9/11/09. 9/28 CT clear 10/18/10 CT clear
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123Donna View Drop Down
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Points: 13510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 123Donna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2013 at 8:40am
Oncologists Hope Congress Will Exempt Cancer Drugs From Sequester Cuts

Oncologists hit by sequester budget cuts to the cost of purchasing and administering cancer drugs are hoping that the potentially devastating impact on Medicare cancer patients will force a quick legislative fix in Congress.

“The administration seems to be oblivious to the crisis happening in cancer care,” said Ted Okon, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). “The president’s budget doubles down on sequester cuts and essentially applies even deeper cuts to cancer drugs. We’re hoping that Congress will help.”

To that end, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) recently introduced the Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 1416), which would exempt chemotherapy drugs from the sequester-mandated 2% reduction in Medicare payments and would compensate oncologists for lower reimbursements paid since the budget cuts went into effect April 1. In addition, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and others in Congress have sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services to protest the cuts.
DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15
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mainsailset View Drop Down
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Points: 5004 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mainsailset Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2013 at 11:22am
It is heartening that this is continuing to be hitting the airwaves and talked about. The Sequester, because it is an 'across the board' cutting and denies the ability to make any adjustments to exempt areas from the cuts is the reason it needs to be replaced with more of a scalpel approach. In that regard, the whole Sequester Bill needs to be tossed and replaced with smart cuts. Head Start & Meals on Wheels programs being slashed is something, like the chemo access, doesn't have to happen. Period.
 
I disagree with the Ted Okon perspective as it has been the President who has been challenging Congress to fix this, Congress has turned a blind eye. Renee Ellmers' is right to propose a fix, but she was on tv last night and didn't know that the Sequester demands an across the board cut for these services. DHHS has it's hands tied and cannot break the law, so letters asking them to compensate oncologists after cuts to Medicare reimbursement are pretty much irrelevant.
 
Here's a good background article  on the effects   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/obama-medicare-budget_n_3052762.html   and what it is that Obama's budget brings to the table.
 
I am just so concerned that our family here, those who rely on Medicare to provide financial support for their journey, will have to bear a huge burden in their care if their local oncologist is set aside when it comes to their chemotherapy. It will cost the system more than if things stay status quo so I'm baffled why anyone would think it is good for our mothers, daughters, grandmothers, cousins and dear friends.
dx 7/08 TN 14x6.5x5.5 cm tumor

3 Lymph nodes involved, Taxol/Sunitab+AC, 5/09 dbl masectomy, path 2mm tumor removed, lymphs all clear, RAD 32 finished 9/11/09. 9/28 CT clear 10/18/10 CT clear
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123Donna View Drop Down
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Points: 13510 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 123Donna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2013 at 12:38pm
Mainy,

As usual you provide accurate in-depth background on the subject!  Kudos to you friend.  Your point that it will cost more in the long run makes these cuts ridiculous.  Now if it would affect Congress like the sequester did on airline travel, you can bet this problem would be fixed in an instant. 
DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15
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majjers View Drop Down
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Points: 278 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote majjers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 02 2013 at 12:48pm
Didn't vote for "them" the first time and anyone who is in favor of the sequester going ahead full bore without modifications will not get my vote.
 
There--I feel better!  Smile
dx 5/25/07, Stage 2A,TNGr3
DD 4 AC,4 Taxol
32 rads
BRCA 1&2 (-)
7/11 mets to lung; Too many lines of chemo to list! The saga continues but only GOD numbers my days!
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Grateful for today View Drop Down
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Joined: Sep 21 2011
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Points: 1835 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Grateful for today Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jul 31 2013 at 10:36pm
Hi,

Mainy posted above:           (Also see other posted related info above)

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/04/04/1819811/sequestration-cancer-clinics/
It's becoming clear that some of our sisters who rely on Medicare coverage to pay for their medical and specifically chemo treatments are seeing the Sequester's effects on their chemo treatments. Medicare cannot fix this. The clinics cannot fix this. Only Congress can.

Please consider supporting members here who rely on Medicare by calling your Congressperson and asking that Congress take up this issue."


This bill is still awaiting US House Representative's support to get past committee.

Please consider calling/emailing your US Representatiave to support House Bill:
H.R. 1416: Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2013

To find your US Representative:
US House Representative:    http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/#listrep
      On link, just put in one's zip code.


Grateful for today..............Judy
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