COA Patient Advocacy Network

News Bulletin: September 2024

Upcoming Advocacy Chats

Educational Conversations on Cancer Advocacy and Policy Issues

September 18: Providing Cancer Care for Rural Patients

Patients in rural areas face different challenges compared to those in urban settings. Community oncology practices navigate these unique challenges, including managing partnerships with other care providers, attracting physicians, and bringing clinical trials to rural areas. Join speakers Rose Gerber, MS, COA's director of patient advocacy and education, and Harsha Vyas, MD, FACP, Cancer Center of Middle Georgia's CEO and president, as they discuss how independent practices deliver rural patients the personal, convenient, high-quality, and affordable care they deserve. Join us on Wednesday, September 18 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

CPAN Chapter Spotlight:

Sit in My Chair Event

Florida Cancer Specialists

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) launched its CPAN chapter a decade ago and continues to advocate for patients across the state. Most recently, FCS hosted U.S. Representative Darren Soto (pictured) for a Sit In My Chair visit at its Lake Nona Cancer Center location, where the policymaker spoke with patients and staff about the value of independent community oncology. 

With Sit In My Chair, advocates can make their voices heard and build long-lasting relationships with state and federal policymakers to support the world-class cancer care community oncology provides. 

Learn more about FCS and other CPAN chapters protecting independent, local cancer care.

It’s Not Just Big Pharma: Meet The Middlemen Blocking Access To Medication

Truthout 08/31

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) claim to bring down drug prices, saving everyone money. But in reality, they inflate drug costs, complicate the process of getting medication, and can require patients to use PBM owned pharmacies. Patients are required to try and fail on preferred drugs, before receiving coverage on other medications, a policy doctors call fail first. “We deal with fail first almost every day,” Miriam J. Atkins, MD, FACP, COA board president and former CPAN medical Co-chair, testified in a congressional hearing last year.

US House Committee Sends Warning Letters To CVS, Cigna, UnitedHealth 

MSN 08/28

The chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has warned CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group, and Cigna Group to “correct” statements their executives made during a committee hearing on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) or face possible legal action.

Men's Cancer Deaths To Rise 93% Globally By 2050 

HealthDay 08/13

Cancer cases and deaths among males will jump globally by 84% and 93%, respectively, by 2050, according to a study published in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer journal. Researchers analyzed more than 30 different types of cancers across 185 countries and territories worldwide to make its projections.

Community Oncology 101: What is Cancer Staging?

Independent community oncology practices use cancer staging to determine the extent and severity of the cancer upon diagnosis. Practices understand how crucial cancer staging is—and use it to inform high-quality, patient-centered treatment plans for affordable care close to home. Learn about cancer staging in this edition of Community Oncology 101.