Our current advocacy goals
The NABTC is calling for the elimination of the two-year Medicare waiting period.
The NABTC advocates a strong federal brain tumor research program, which requires:
- Adequate funding for the National Institutes of Health
- Strong leadership at the National Cancer Institute for extramural brain tumor research efforts
- Preservation of translational and clinical brain tumor research programs, including the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) and brain tumor consortia
Click here to read more information about these positions.
Legislative Links
USA:
It is important to know how to find and contact your Representative and your Senators. To find a Representative go to: www.house.gov, and look on the header of the page to search by zip code. To find your Senators, go to www. senate.gov, and look on the header of the page to search by state.
Canada:
To access Canadian legislative information, consult: www.Canada.gc.ca
About the Public Health Policy
Healthcare problems faced by brain tumor patients are influenced by policies of the federal government and its agencies. Examples include health insurance, access to specialty care, drug availability and pricing, and access to clinical trials. Funding for the National Institutes of Health and how those funds are spent also affect the brain tumor community.
The North American Brain Tumor Coalition (NABTC) is dedicated to advocating for those policies that will assure improved quality of care for brain tumor patients.
NABTC carefully analyzes and monitors government policies, current or proposed, with regard to their potential effect on patients and survivors, as well as their effect on clinical care and scientific research. We then decide upon our short- and long-term goals.
Past & Present Advocacy Efforts
The NABTC has an on-going role in legislative efforts in Washington, and advocacy is done on a weekly and sometimes daily basis by our counsel and by coalition members. To see a summary of the coalition’s key accomplishments and brain tumor related milestones through the years, please click here: Accomplishments
Collaborations
The Cancer Leadership Council (CLC) is a collaboration of patient advocacy organizations, research foundations, and professional societies, seeking to advance public policies in order to enhance the treatment and quality of life for cancer survivors. As one of thirty participants in the CLC, NABTC is involved in a wide range of policy debates that relate to cancer care and research. For more information about the CLC visit: www.cancerleadership.org