NABTC Urges Action to End the Medicare Waiting Period

September 13, 2008

Contact your Senators and Representatives TODAY to ask them to cosponsor the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act (H.R. 154/S. 2102). This important legislation would improve access to health care for many Americans, including individuals with brain tumors. For those with life-threatening conditions, the 24-month waiting period to receive Medicare would be eliminated. The waiting period would be phased out for others, until no American with disabilities would be forced to waiting for Medicare benefits.

The brain tumor community must act to build Congressional support for this legislation.(more...)

Posted in Action Items, Advocacy Positions

Congress Returns to Work After Long Summer Recess

September 13, 2008

The United States Congress returned to session on September 8, 2008, after a lengthy summer recess that included both the Democratic and Republican conventions. At the top of the agenda for Congress is passage of spending bills for fiscal year 2009, which begins on October 1, 2008.

Congress is almost certain to pass a stop-gap spending bill that would fund most functions of the federal government, including health and education programs and activities. This must be done before September 26, when Congress is currently slated to adjourn. However, the term of the stop-gap bill is uncertain. The bill may last until early in 2009, when the 111th Congress would have to complete the work on (more...)

Posted in General News, Spending Bills

Presidential Candidates Release Cancer Plans

September 13, 2008

In his cancer plan, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain pledges to provide researchers “necessary funding to defeat cancer once and for all.” His plan also stresses better public-private coordination to accelerate the translation of basic findings into new treatments. Senator McCain suggests that the “key to winning the fight on cancer is to ensure that we focus on creating a healthier lifestyle for all of us.” He focuses on smoking cessation, healther eating habits, and a more active lifestyle.

Senator McCain’s plan for access to cancer care would build on the current system of employer-based coverage but would attempt to give consumers more control over their health care. The McCain-Palin plan can be reviewed at http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/HealthCare/FC.htm.

Senator Barack Obama commits to (more...)

Posted in General News