CancerCare endorses and actively promotes state and federal policies which:
- Ensure equitable access to high quality, safe, affordable and comprehensive cancer treatment for all Americans
- Monitor and protect against potential discriminatory insurance benefit design and implementation
- Enable a responsible process to ensure government-sponsored insurance programs provide patient-centric, quality, and affordable treatment and coverage
- Facilitate shared decision-making in cancer treatment planning that reflects patients’ values and priorities
- Help expedite the development and implementation of survivorship plans for every cancer patient after active treatment
- Fund the rapid development of novel, safe and effective cancer treatment and support therapies
- Promote health equity and reduce health care disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities
Our Advocacy Activities:
Alternative Funding Programs - What Employers Need to Know
The purpose of these resources is to explain the unintended consequences of alternative funding programs, raise attention to the risks for employers and employees, and provide more ethical cost containment strategies for employer-sponsored health plans.
Alternative Funding Programs - What Employers Need to Know
Alternative Funding Programs - What Employers Need to Know (1-pager)
The Employers’ Prescription for Employee Protection Toolkit: Prescription Drug Benefit
Insurance companies and benefits consultants often recommend cost-saving strategies that control patients’ access to healthcare services—practices known as utilization management (UM). This toolkit will help achieve a deeper understanding of UM practices and their unintended consequences on the health and well-being of employees. Learn more >>
The Employers’ Prescription for Employee Protection Toolkit: Biomarkers
Biomarker testing leads to more effective targeted treatments, avoiding ineffective and potentially harmful treatments, and improved patient outcomes. See our new biomarker testing toolkit to help benefits managers, human resources professionals, and others to better understand the increasing importance of biomarker testing in cancer treatment. Learn more >>
Research on Cancer Caregivers and Decision-making
Published in July, 2022, reflecting the perspectives of more than 2700 cancer caregivers, the report identifies many of the concerns and needs they have as they participate in shared treatment decision-making. Learn more >>
The CancerCare Patient Values Manifesto
Published in 2019, the CancerCare Patient Values Manifesto is based on the premise that people with cancer and their clinical care teams have a fundamental right to relationships rooted in mutual respect, where communication is open and culturally competent, plain language information is exchanged, goals are shared and patients’ priorities are acknowledged throughout the continuum of care. Learn more >>
The CancerCare Patient Values Initiative
Launched in early 2017, this multi-faceted project intends to reframe the national healthcare policy dialogue to include what’s important to patients and their families, and to incorporate patients’ values and priorities into treatment decision-making models. Learn more >>
The CancerCare Patient Access and Engagement Report
Published in May, 2016, reflecting the perspectives of thousands of Americans diagnosed with cancer, the report identifies many needs and concerns that people experience along the continuum of living with and beyond cancer. Learn more >>
Publications and Other Media Informed by CancerCare Research
Chiara Acquati; Judith H. Hibbard; Ellen Miller-Sonet; Anao Zhang; Elena Ionescu “Patient activation and treatment decision-making in the context of cancer: examining the contribution of informal caregivers’ involvement” (September 2021)
Journal of Cancer Survivorship“CancerCare: Aiding Patients and Families in Need” (July 2021)
The MD Advantage Podcast“Ellen Miller-Sonet, Chief Strategy and Policy Officer at CancerCare” (April 2021)
Becker’s Healthcare PodcastChiara Acquati; Judith Hibbard; Ellen Miller-Sonet; Anao Zhang; Elena Ionescu “The moderating role of informal caregiver’s involvement on the relationship between patient activation and adherence to treatment: Implications for self-management intervention in cancer care.” (May 2021)
Journal of Clinical OncologyKaren M. Winkfield, MD, PhD; Jeanne M. Regnante, BS; Ellen Miller-Sonet, JD, MBA; Evelyn T. González, BA, MA; Karen M. Freund, MD, MPH; Patricia M. Doykos, PhD “Development of an Actionable Framework to Address Cancer Care Disparities in Medically Underserved Populations in the United States: Expert Roundtable Recommendations” (January 2021)
JCO Oncology PracticeCourtney P. Williams, DrPH; Ellen Miller-Sonet, JD, MBA; Ryan D. Nipp, MD, MPH; Arif H. Kamal, MD, MBA, MHS; Susan Love, MD, MBA; Gabrielle B. Rocque, MD, MSPH “Importance of quality-of-life priorities and preferences surrounding treatment decision making in patients with cancer and oncology clinicians” (May 2020)
CancerEllen Miller-Sonet, JD, MBA; Gabrielle B. Rocque, MD, MSPH “Patient and physician perceptions: Importance and documentation of patient priorities in treatment planning and decision-making.” (September 2019)
Journal of Clinical OncologyPatricia J. Goldsmith “Insurers Need to Focus on Patients, Not Profits” (April 2019)
The Morning ConsultJalpa A. Doshi, PhD; Ellen Miller-Sonet, MBA, JD; Justin T. Puckett “Advocating for New Patient-Centered Tools for Value-Based Treatment Choices in Oncology” (March 2019)
Journal of Clinical PathwaysGabrielle Rocque, MD, MSPH; Ellen Miller-Sonnet, MBA, JD; Alan Balch, PhD; Carrie Stricker, PhD, RN; Josh Seidman, PhD; Susan Stiles, RN, MHA, MBA; John Ruggerio, PhD, MPA; Nancy Paynter, MBA; Mark Lewis, MD; Arif Kamal, MD "Engaging Multidisciplinary Stakeholders to Drive Shared Decision-Making in Oncology" (November 2018)
Journal of Palliative CarePatricia J. Goldsmith “Trump pricing plans are pretentious, could impede access, and will not help much” (November 2018)
The Cancer LetterEllen Miller-Sonet “When Clinical Trials Try Patients’ Patience” (November 2018)
CUREMeredith Doherty, MSW; Ellen Miller-Sonet, JD, MBA; Daniel Gardner, PhD; Irwin Epstein, PhD “Exploring the role of psychosocial care in value-based oncology: Results from a survey of 3000 cancer patients and survivors” (November 2018)
Journal of Psychosocial Oncology“The Language of Cancer” (August 2018)
Health News ReviewRyan D. Nipp, MD; Ellen Miller Sonet, MBA, JD; Gery P. Guy Jr., PhD, MPH “Communicating the Financial Burden of Treatment With Patients” (May 2018)
American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational BookPatricia J. Goldsmith “Re: Drug Pricing My unsolicited advice to HHS Secretary Alex Azar” (February 2018)
The Cancer LetterEllen Miller-Sonet “Informed decision making in cancer care: more myth than reality” (December 2017)
STATEdward Abrahams; Alan Balch; Patricia Goldsmith; Marcia Kean; Amy M. Miller; Gilbert Omenn; Ellen Sonet; John Sprandio; Courtney Tyne; Kimberly Westrich "Clinical Pathways: Recommendations for Putting Patients at the Center of Value-Based Care" (August 2017)
Cancer Clinical ResearchJudith H. Hibbard; Eldon Mahoney; Ellen Sonet “Does patient activation level affect the cancer patient journey?” (March 2017)
Patient Education and CounselingKenneth Thorpe; Patricia J. Goldsmith “Beating Cancer Shouldn't Force Patients Into Bankruptcy” (February 2017)
Real Clear Health
Our Policy Activities:
2024
Group Letter Urging Congress to Pass Comprehensive and Commonsense PBM Reforms. September 2024
CLC Group Letter to Reps. Diana DeGette and Larry Bucshon, MD on Cures 2.0. August 2024
Sign-On Letter in Response to a Request for Information (RFI) on ERISA. March 2024
Alternative Funding Programs - What Employers Need to Know (1-pager)
Sign-On Letter on Proposed 2025 NBPP and Self-Funded and Large Group Plans. January 2024
Press Release re: Amicus Brief on Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Patients. January 2024
2023
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Washington Medicaid Transformation Project Amendment. September 2023
Letter to Director Mann re: Arkansas ARHOME 1115 Amendment. May 2023
Email to NYS Legislators re: NY S 1196/A 1673 biomarker testing. May 2023
Letter to Administrator Brooks-LaSure re: CMS to Reinstate Code S2068 for DIEP. April 2023
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Rhode Island 1115 Demonstration Extension. February 2023
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Oklahoma 1115 Demonstration Extension Request. February 2023
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: KanCare 1115 Demonstration Extension Request. February 2023
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: New Mexico 1115 Demonstration Waiver Renewal Request. January 2023
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Proposed Amendment to Oregon’s 1115 Demonstration. December 2022
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Wisconsin 1115 Demonstration Waiver Extension. December 2022
2022
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Amendment 4 to the TennCare Demonstration. October 2022
Letter to Director Butler re: Amendment 4 to the TennCare III Demonstration. August 2022
Statement regarding the Inflation Reduction Act. August 2022
Letter to Administrator Brooks-LaSure re: Oregon Waiver Renewal Application. April 2022
Letter to Charles Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, Re: HDHP-HSA. January 2022
Letter to Ron Wyden, Richard Neal, Mike Crapo, Kevin Brady, Re: HDHP-HSA. January 2022
2021
Letter to Secretary Becerra and Administrator Brooks-LaSure re: zero-co-pay policy. August 2021
Letter to Representatives DeGette and Upton re: 21st Century Cures 2.0 (Cures 2.0). July 2021
Update on Missouri amicus filing and media statement re: Medicaid expansion. July 2021
Statement regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act. June 2021
Letter to the Ohio House Health Committee re: Vaccine Coalition (HB 248-11). June 2021
Letter to Administrator Brooks-LaSure re: TennCare III 1115 Waiver. May 2021
Letter to Secretary Becerra re: Oklahoma SoonerCare 1115 Demonstration Amendment. April 2021
Open Letter to Policymakers re: Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and similar metrics. April 2021
Letter to President Biden re: COVID-19 Vaccination Prioritization for Cancer Patients. February 2021
Statement for the Record Ways and Means Committee, Markup of COVID-19 Relief Measures. February 2021
Letter to Secretary Designee Becerra re: CMMI Part D Payment Modernization Models. February 2021
2020
Letter to Administrator Verma re: CMS-5528-IFC, Most Favored Nation (MFN) Model. December 2020
Comment re: proposed rule in the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2022. December 2020
Statement on the President’s Executive Orders on Prescription Drug Pricing. July 2020
Letter to President Trump re: Support for the World Health Organization (WHO). July 2020
Letter to Senator Alexander re: Preparing for the Next Pandemic. June 2020
Statement re: Administration policy encourages discrimination in health care. June 2020
Letter to Secretary Azar and Director Severino re: Emergency Triage Plans. May 2020
Letter to Secretary Azar re: COVID-19 Fixes for Cancer Patients. April 2020
2019
Letter to Administrator Verma re: the Oncology Care First model. December 2019
Letter to Representatives DeGette and Upton re: Cures 2.0 effort. December 2019
Letter to Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray re: Lower Health Care Costs Act. June 2019
Letter to FDA Acting Commissioner Sharpless re: naming of biological products. May 2019
Cancer Organizations Comment on Ruling that ACA is Unconstitutional. December 2018
2018
Letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar re: Step Therapy. September 2018
Letter to FDA Commissioner Gottlieb re: the Biosimilars Action Plan. September 2018
Letter to Honorable Susan Collins re: Cancer Drug Parity Act. September 2018
Interview with Patricia Goldsmith: This is the “Moonstab,” or, maybe, the “Moonshaft." March 2017
Expansion of Association Health Plans Final Rule Statement. June 2018
Letter to Secretary Azar in support of fixing the 340B Drug Pricing Program. June 2018
Letter to Dr. Crosson and Dr. Mathews of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). May 2018
Letter to Secretary Azar from The Partnership for Part D Access. April 2018
Cancer Leadership Council comments on Right to Try legislation. March 2018
Letter to Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi on Right to Try Act Opposition. March 2018
Cancer Leadership Council comments on Right to Try legislation. February 2018
2017
Cancer Leadership Council comments on Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters 2019. November 2017
Cancer Leadership Council comments on Innovation Center RFI. November 2017
Letter to the Senate: Vote no on the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill. September 2017
Statement to express opposition to American Health Care Act. May 2017
Letter to Congress urging protection of the Johnson Amendment
Letter to Secretary Price on proposed rule on health care market stabilization. March 2017