From the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
MEMORANDUM 2 pages total
DATE: October 31, 2003
TO: U.S. ASCO Members
FROM: Margaret Tempero, M.D., President
RE: UNPRECEDENTED CANCER CARE CUTS IMPENDING
Action Needed Immediately
Last night, Medicare conferees are reported to have decided to include unprecedented cuts to cancer care in the Medicare Prescription Drug legislation. This legislation, if enacted, would cut more than a billion dollars a year from cancer care.
Congressional leadership has publicly stated that a final bill will be released in the next few days. We appreciate the tremendous effort you have made so far, but your calls over the next week are vital to stopping the impending cancer cuts. The leadership listed below will have the ability to influence the final outline of what is included in the Medicare legislation. Please make a commitment to set aside time to call every person on the following list and let them know that the AWP proposal currently under consideration will devastate cancer care.
Senator Bill Frist, Senate Majority Leader 202-224-3135
Rep. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House 202-225-0600
Rep. Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader 202-225-4000
Senator Tom Daschle, Senate Minority Leader 202-224-5556
Senator Chuck Grassley 202-224-5315,
202-224-3744
Senator Max Baucus 202-224-2651
Senator John Breaux (rhymes with "grow") 202-224-4623
Senator Ted Kennedy 202-224-4543
Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to the President 202-456-1111,
202-456-2369
Josh Bolten, Director, Office of Management and Budget 202-395-4840
Secretary Tommy Thompson 202-690-7000
Tell Them:
* If the Medicare conference committee settles on a proposal, it
will take over a billion dollars a year from cancer care.
* You cannot let this cut go through because it will have a devastating
effect on access to cancer care.
Also attached is a press release that was sent out today. Please contact ASCO's Cancer Policy & Clinical Affairs Department at 703-299-1050 or publicpolicy@asco.org with any questions.
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