Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Wednesday, June 11, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator Kit Bond today introduced legislation to aid cancer patients by helping to make sure that the out-patient cancer centers they depend on stay open.

In particular, Bond's "Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2003" will boost the federal financial reimbursement received by hospital out-patient cancer centers now teetering at the edge of financial ruin. This bill would restore some of the drastic reimbursement cuts put into effect by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

"People fighting cancer should not have to worry about the doors closing on their outpatient centers because of a glitch in federal funding," said Bond. "By restoring some of that federal funding, we can make sure those centers remain open for the patients who need them." Bond introduced S. 1206 today.

The number of new cancer patients in Missouri is estimated to reach almost 30,000 this year. Nationwide, the number of new cases exceeds 1.3 million. Many of these new cancer patients rely solely upon the services now provided by these out-patient cancer centers.

In drafting the legislation, Bond worked closely with Wes Thompson, Director of Radiology at Ray County Memorial Hospital in Richmond, Missouri – a small town with a population of about 6,100 approximately 50 miles east of Kansas City. Ray County Memorial Hospital is the sole referral center for chemotherapy treatment for the rural residents outside of Kansas City. Under current reimbursement rates, this hospital will be forced to cut off treatment by January 1, 2004, for the 250 cancer patients who now rely upon the facility.

As of January 1st of next year 250 patients in rural Missouri will be forced to drive to Kansas City to receive cancer treatment. Oncologists at Ray County Memorial Hospital estimate that 40% of the patients they treat will be unable to make the trip to Kansas City area facilities to receive their treatment—either because they lack the transportation or the help to get there and back, or they are too sick or too weak to endure that trip. As a result of this cancer center closing, 80-100 people will die from cancer with no treatment and no hope.

A companion to Bond's Senate legislation was filed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL).

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service in his third term in the United States Senate.