WASHINGTON, May 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 100 radiation oncologists from across the United States are on Capitol Hill urging Congress to grow its investment in cancer research and to protect patients' access to high quality cancer care. The doctors are in Washington to meet with Congressional leaders on Tuesday as part of the 14th annual Advocacy Day organized by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Radiation oncologists are emphasizing four priorities as they meet with policymakers and their staffers: (1) supporting cancer research by increasing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget by $2 billion; (2) avoiding disruptions in health insurance coverage for cancer patients; (3) preserving patients' access to quality health care by stabilizing Medicare payments while pursuing innovative models of physician reimbursement; and (4) protecting access to radioactive isotopes. Infographics are available for each of these key issues.Continue Reading

Federal investment in cancer research has played a role in every major innovation in the fight against cancer and has led to a decline in the overall number of cancer deaths in the United States, yet funding for cancer research is under threat. The President's proposed 2018 budget would cut $6 billion from the $32 billion earmarked for NIH, which could lead to a roughly 20 percent cut in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) budget. This drastic cut would derail the progress toward improved outcomes for cancer patients and cause leading scientists to leave the cancer research field. Cuts also would erase the commitment Congress made in late 2016 by passing the 21st Century Cures Act, which was widely-supported, bipartisan legislation that pledged nearly $5 million in additional support for the NIH.
"There are more than two hundred types of cancer, and only through research can we learn which treatments, including radiation therapy, will be most effective to fight the many different forms of this illness. We ask that Congress reject proposed cuts to federal cancer research funding and instead support an increase in the budget to eradicate cancer," said Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, FASTRO, president of ASTRO and chair of the department of radiation oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

As Congress and the administration debate the future of American health care, ASTRO members are encouraging policymakers to prioritize reforms that avoid coverage disruptions for cancer patients. Studies have demonstrated that a lack of adequate health insurance leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment, resulting in higher mortality rates. Inadequate coverage also leads to higher costs that are felt throughout the economy. ASTRO strongly supports bipartisan solutions that protect cancer patients from losing their health insurance or not being approved for coverage following a cancer diagnosis, including maintaining bans on pre-existing condition exclusions and annual and lifetime caps; preserving guaranteed issue and guaranteed renewability provisions; and safeguarding access to clinical trials.

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