Public Issues
Issue Briefs
The National Cancer Fund Act (H.R. 6791) Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives
9/1/2008The National Cancer Fund Act (H.R. 6791) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on August 1, 2008 by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) and Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY). The bill intends to establish a National Cancer Fund through increased taxation of tobacco products. With an increase to $1 per cigarette pack and corresponding increases in the pricing of other tobacco products, the proposed fund is projected to raise $35 billion over the course of five years. The revenue from this fund would be spent on a variety of cancer initiatives including research, prevention, early detection, patient care, and survivorship. Funding designated for research would emphasize rare cancers and the most lethal forms of cancer, defined as those cancers with five-year survival rates below 50 percent. Early detection and treatment programs to cover individuals that do not have access to health care would additionally be created under the proposed bill. Proceeds would also be invested in the expansion of NIH cancer programs and the development of a nationwide tobacco cessation program.
The bill would appoint the President’s Cancer Panel to make recommendations to Congress regarding allocation of funds. The reconfigured panel would be composed of five individuals, with at least three members who are distinguished scientists or physicians, including one who is an expert in public health, and one who has expertise in basic research. The panel will also be responsible for gathering input from public finance experts on additional possibilities for funding beyond the tobacco tax.
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means as well as the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration of such provisions within the jurisdiction of these committees.
President Signs Supplemental Funding for NIH in FY 2008
7/1/2008As reported in the June issue of AACI Update, the Senate passed a supplemental spending bill that would have added $400 million to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) fiscal year (FY) 2008 budget. As expected, the House of Representatives took action on its version of the bill and, on June 19, passed the measure–providing an additional $150 million for NIH that will be transferred to the NIH Institutes and Common Fund. The National Cancer Institute is expected to receive more than $20 million to supplement current FY 2008 appropriations. On June 30, President Bush signed the supplemental spending bill into law.
Congress Considers FY 2009 NIH and NCI Appropriations
6/30/2008On June 19, the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) completed mark-up of its fiscal year (FY) 2009 bill. The bill provides an increase of $1.2 billion (4.1%) over the FY 2008 level for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a nearly $170 million (3.5%) increase for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The full House Appropriations Committee is expected to mark up and vote on the LHHS appropriations bill after the July 4 recess.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on LHHS also introduced their FY 2009 bill in June, providing an increase to NIH of $1.025 billion (3.5%) over the FY 2008 level. The full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the measure on June 26 and is expected to send it to the Senate floor for the full chamber’s consideration in the coming weeks.
Senate Approves Supplemental Funding for NIH in FY 2008
5/29/2008On May 22, the Senate approved a supplemental spending bill that provides an additional $400 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 2008. The measure passed in the Senate with strong bipartisan support, 75 to 22 votes, and the House of Representatives is expected to vote in June upon their return from the Memorial Day recess. We encourage AACI members to thank their Senators for supporting the supplemental spending bill and recognizing that sustainable funding for NIH will help speed the pace of translating scientific advances into life-saving cures.
Senate Approves Supplemental Funding for NIH in FY 2008
5/29/2008On May 22, the Senate approved a supplemental spending bill that provides an additional $400 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 2008. The measure passed in the Senate with strong bipartisan support, 75 to 22 votes, and the House of Representatives is expected to vote in June upon their return from the Memorial Day recess. We encourage AACI members to thank their Senators for supporting the supplemental spending bill and recognizing that sustainable funding for NIH will help speed the pace of translating scientific advances into life-saving cures.
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act Introduced in Senate
5/29/2008On May 8, Senator Sherrod Brown introduced the Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act of 2008 (S 2999) into the Senate. This is a companion to HR 2676, which was introduced into the House of Representative last year by Representative Deborah Pryce (R-OH), and now has 31 cosponsors. If passed, this bill would help to make clinical trials more accessible to patients who are diagnosed with cancer.
The legislation would obligate health plans to pay for routine care costs when a cancer patient enrolls in a clinical trial. The legislation is very specific in its definition of routine care costs and follows Medicare’s definition. Since 2000, Medicare has provided coverage for routine costs for cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials, specifying that health plans would not have to pay for the clinical trial costs—for instance, the actual drug or device being tested or for research-related costs. At present, a few state laws and limited voluntary state agreements make efforts to ensure that private health insurance plans provide coverage to patients enrolled in clinical trials. A federal policy will mandate that patients not be denied coverage for routine care costs even if they participate in a clinical trial.
AACI is committed to ensuring that all patients with cancer in the United States have access to the benefits of participating in a clinical trial. As such, AACI encourages its member centers to support this legislation by contacting your elected officials.
Access to Cancer Clinical Trials Act Introduced in Senate
4/28/2008On April 24, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (HR 493) by a vote of 95 to 0. The Senate-amended measure will be sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives for a final vote before proceeding to the President, who has indicated he supports the bill.
The legislation is intended to prohibit health insurance and employment discrimination based on genetic information resulting from the detection of genotypes, mutations, or chromosomal changes. While many states have enacted some type of genetic non-discrimination law, the existing patchwork has not provided a consistent safeguard from discrimination. The federal legislation will establish a national standard to fully protect the public, allowing individuals to take advantage of genetic testing without fear of repercussions from an employer or insurer. The HIPAA privacy regulation will also be revised to include confidentiality rules for disclosure of genetic information.
With the mapping of the human genome in 2003, new knowledge about genetics has led to the development of more personalized therapies–treatments with fewer side effects and better outcomes. Genetic testing can now provide individuals with personal preventative care options that reduce the likelihood they will contract a particular disease. Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, said,“Unless Americans are convinced that their genetic information will not be used against them, the era of personalized medicine may never come to pass.”
Comprehensive Cancer Care Act Introduced in Senate
4/28/2008On March 31, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) introduced the Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act of 2008 (S 2790) that would provide Medicare reimbursement for the development of cancer care planning services for patient treatment, symptom management, and follow-up care. Individuals with cancer would be given a comprehensive summary of their care, enhancing communications between the patient and physicians. The comprehensive cancer plan would be presented to beneficiaries at the time of diagnosis, include follow-up survivorship strategies at the end of primary treatment, and be updated based on the survivor’s condition.
A companion bill has been introduced in the House (HR 1078) by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA) and now includes more than 100 co-sponsors. It has also gained support from 38 NCI-designated cancer centers and more than 30 cancer advocacy groups. In the Senate, Landrieu is looking for a co-sponsor to help the legislation gain momentum.
President's Budget for FY 2009
2/11/2008On February 4, President Bush released the final budget of his presidential term. The President’s budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2009 includes $29.2 billion for the National Institutes of Health—funding that is level with that of FY 2008—and $4.8 billion for the National Cancer Institute—a 0.1-percent increase over FY 2008 funding for the Institute. Since the completion of the doubling of the NIH budget in 2003, NIH’s budget—and that of its constituent Institutes—has remained flat or been cut each year. In the current budget proposal NCI is slated to receive a $5-million increase; however—by NCI’s own estimate—$455 million is required simply to maintain current services.
Summary of FY 2008 NIH/NCI Appropriations
1/24/2008On December 26, 2007, President Bush signed into law a $555 billion omnibus spending bill that included the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2008. The LHHS package allocated $28.93 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increase of 0.46% over the FY 2007 level and $4.80 billion to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), 0.26% higher than FY 2007. These numbers fell well short of the 6.7% increase the medical research community had requested for NIH/NCI funding and the 3.7% rate of biomedical inflation.
A previous version of the bill was sent to the President in November and provided a 3.1% increase to NIH and a 2.7% increase to NCI. The bill was vetoed by the President on November 13 and the House of Representatives failed to override the veto on November 15, falling short by two votes.