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WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) welcomed the endorsement of 30 leading cancer organizations for her legislation to improve the quality of cancer care. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1078), introduced earlier this year by Congresswoman Capps and Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA), would encourage physicians to develop written cancer care plans and treatment summaries/survivorship plans. The care plans would provide a stronger, more inclusive approach to the treatment of cancer by facilitating communication between patients and physicians as well as enhancing coordination of active treatment and symptom management.
“Although cancer survivors in the United States have access to cutting edge treatments, they sometimes experience gaps in their care, including a failure to treat the symptoms of cancer and cancer treatment,” said Capps a nurse and member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. “As we continue to search for a cure for cancer, it is critical that we adopt a more comprehensive approach to providing care for our cancer patients and survivors. The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act would ensure that patients have access to proper management of their symptoms in order to provide the highest quality of care.”
"The cancer community is grateful to Congresswoman Capps and Congressman Davis for their leadership in focusing on the need in our health care system for comprehensive cancer care planning,” said Ellen Stovall President & CEO of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
The endorsing organizations are participants in the Cancer Leadership Council and represent cancer survivors, researchers, and caregivers. “With strong support from the cancer community, we hope to advance this important quality care measure,” said Capps.
The legislation is based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM urged in its 1999 report, Ensuring Quality Cancer Care, that cancer patients have access to cancer care plans, and in its 2005 report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, the IOM proposed that all cancer survivors be provided treatment summaries.
The organizations endorsing H.R. 1078 are:
American Psychosocial Oncology Society
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology &
Oncology
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition
Cancer Care
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
The Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
Fertile Hope
Gilda's Club Worldwide
International Myeloma Foundation
Kidney Cancer Association
Lance Armstrong Foundation
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Lung Cancer Alliance
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
National Lung Cancer Partnership
National Patient Advocate Foundation
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
North American Brain Tumor Coalition
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Sarcoma Foundation of America
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education
and Support Network
The Wellness Community
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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