By CAC2 Member Matt Marks (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) State borders shouldn’t be barriers to treatment for children with cancer or other complex illnesses. Yet all too often, they cause challenges—or even treatment delays—for children and their families who rely on Medicaid or CHIP for their health insurance. That’s why I encourage our community to champion the bipartisan Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act (AKACA). This bill would reduce the paperwork required of doctors treating children from out-of-state, so that children can receive the care they need faster and with fewer delays. Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce […]
Read moreThe Energy and Commerce Committee advanced proposals earlier this month that will extend Americans’ access to telehealth services, strengthen and preserve Medicaid, and encourage innovation to help children with rare diseases. In a Subcommittee markup, the Health Subcommittee forwarded 21 pieces of legislation to the Full Committee for consideration. Several of them are important to the childhood cancer community: Creating Hope Reauthorization Act (HR 7384). Pharmaceutical companies developing treatments for rare diseases that mainly affect children are eligible for rare pediatric disease priority review vouchers supporting their work. Children represent about half of all people living with a rare condition. […]
Read moreThe Alliance for Childhood Cancer sends its thanks for a fantastic Action Day on February 14. More than 225 advocates from 32 states participated and shared their stories, asking for congressional support for important legislation and funding for childhood cancer. CAC2 members, Alliance members, and many others across the country had their voices heard. This year’s asks: Federal Funding for Childhood Cancer Programs We request $30 million to fully fund the Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act for a 7th year and $50 million to fully fund the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) for a 6th year. Additionally, we urge Congress […]
Read moreUpdate from our colleagues at the Alliance for Childhood Cancer (July 28, 2023): The Senate Appropriations Committee has released its Fiscal Year 2024 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill, and we are excited to report that it included language to fully fund the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative again this year. If you are interested in the details you can find the report language that specifies our Labor-HHS funding priorities is available here. We still have more work to do heading into the fall to make sure our priorities remain in next year’s budget, but the inclusion of STAR and […]
Read moreBy Guest Blogger Sarah Milberg, Co-Chair of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer and Director of Government Relations and Advocacy for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Thanks to advocates like you, we have been able to make great progress on important childhood cancer issues before Congress. The Alliance for Childhood Cancer is excited to announce that Action Days 2023 will return back to Washington, D.C. from April 24-25, 2023. Registration will open in early 2023. Action Days gives you an opportunity to speak with your members of Congress and their staff to advocate for important childhood cancer issues before Congress. Sharing your story next […]
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