COA Patient Advocacy Network

News Bulletin: November 2024

Upcoming Advocacy Chats

Educational Conversations on Cancer Advocacy and Policy Issues

November 13: What to Know About Open Enrollment

During Medicare Open Enrollment, patients can change health insurance plans to one that’s right for them. What do patients need to consider? Join a discussion about the basics of Medicare coverage, what questions to ask to help choose the right plan, and how to overcome common sign-up challenges.

Rose Gerber, MS, director of patient advocacy and education, COA

Kathy Oubre, MS, Chief Executive Officer, Pontchartrain Cancer Center

Share CPAN's November Advocacy Chat on Social Media

Use the below post on your social media channels to highlight the upcoming Advocacy Chat. The @ tags are currently for X; please adapt for other channels.

• #Medicare #OpenEnrollment helps patients choose an insurance plan that’s right for them. Learn from experts on what questions to ask, how to overcome common sign-up challenges, and more. Join @OubreKathy of @PCCLouisiana and COA’s @RoseGerberCOA on 11/13: https://bit.ly/3NNjhmF 

ICYMI: The Role of Pharmacists in Community Oncology

Community oncology pharmacists work across the entire care team to ensure patients receive high quality care and understand their treatment path. Lisa Sowinski-Raff, PharmD, MS Pharm, BCPS, BCOP, OneOncology's vice president of pharmacy services, joined COA’s Rose Gerber, MS, and Judy Alberto, MHA, RPh, BCOP, to discuss this and more.

Stream it on @OncologyCOA's YouTube channel.

CPAN Chapter Launch Spotlight

Central Georgia Cancer Care (CGCC), which serves patients in Macon and Warner Robins, GA, launched its CPAN chapter in late October. CGCC has participated in many COA advocacy events, including the I AM campaign and Hill Days in Washington D.C., where they have championed independent community oncology. By adding a CPAN chapter, CGCC is ensuring patients have access to COA’s national advocacy resources and experts.

Learn how CGCC and fellow COA CPAN chapters advocate for patients and community oncology. 

Pharmacy Deserts Are Appearing Across U.S. as Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS Drug Store Closures Spread

CNBC 10/11

Healthcare stakeholders, including the federal government, are pointing fingers at pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for inflated drug prices and the closing of pharmacies in small towns. In June, the Federal Trade Commission issued a scathing report about PBMs and the “squeezing” of Main Street pharmacies caused by decades of mergers and acquisitions. The report blames falling reimbursement rates from PBMs for many of the financial troubles of smaller pharmacies.

Doctors Warn 130,000 Americans Are Living with Undiagnosed Cancer

MSN 10/14

During the pandemic lockdown, many cancer screening centers closed while others suffered severe staffing shortages. As doctors suspected, disruptions in healthcare led to fewer screenings and diagnoses. More than 9 million fewer screenings were performed, resulting in nearly 130,000 missed cancer diagnoses in 2020 and 2021, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Five Ways To Support Your Friends With Cancer, According to CNN’s Sara Sidner

CNN 10/25

While individual stories about breast cancer often share common themes, the details and experiences can be vastly different. Stephanie Elam, CNN correspondent, reflects on how to best support friends diagnosed with breast cancer such as reaching out, sending food, treating each other with care, sharing experiences cautiously, connecting friends to other survivors, and limiting questions about treatment.

Video: Community Oncology: Putting Patients First



Putting patients first means prioritizing their needs and well-being by providing high-quality, affordable, local cancer care. For community oncology teams, this involves not only treating illness but creating a compassionate atmosphere that empowers patients and their families to easily access the care they need. Watch the video.