Medical research and technologies are always advancing. New oral drug therapies are being developed to treat cancer in less invasive and more effective ways.

Medicare currently covers anti-cancer oral drugs, but only if the drug is provided under physician services that are administered intravenously in a doctor's office or in an outpatient setting. This policy covers 90 to 95 percent of cancer drug therapies. There are many new oral cancer drugs being developed that will not fall under Medicare's strict definitions for coverage. Oral drugs make up five percent of the oncology market today, but that percentage will increase in the next decade.

Congress is looking at reforming the Medicare program. All of the options are on the table, including H.R. 1624, the Access to Cancer Therapies Act of 2001. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee as we address reforms in the Medicare program.

The bottom line is that the Medicare program must keep pace with pharmaceutical research and development. We need to update Medicare's policy to accommodate medical and pharmaceutical advancements so that coverage for our nation's seniors won't diminish.