Nick Lampson: “oncology services are critical for Texans. The American Cancer Society expected 83,400 new cancer patients for Texas in…”

“oncology services are critical for Texans. The American Cancer Society expected 83,400 new cancer patients for Texas in 2003. Cancer sufferers need access to care near where they live, and they need stability of care. An accessible, caring oncology clinic is welcome news for people who have heard some very bad news from their diagnosis. Congress gave some very bad news to oncologists in the passage of the Medicare bill this past session. The American Society of Clinical Oncology came out on September 8 with their take on the effects of this bill. Their analysis finds that half of practices expect that they will pay more than they are reimbursed for specific drugs for anemia or lung, colon, or pancreas cancers; that they expect a loss of funds for community-based cancer care in the range of 43 to 54 percent; and that one-fourth of the drugs used for cancer treatment will cost the typical oncology practice more than what is covered by Medicare. I urge my colleagues to press for restoring oncologists' ability to give cancer patients the ability and stability in treatment they need to fight their illnesses. Congress should not deny the drugs necessary to those who need them in this life or death struggle.”