ONS Connect - April 2008 - (Page 17)

CAPITOLCONNECTION Proposed Bill Seeks Payment for Patient Education [By ilisa Halpern Paul, MPP, ONS Health Policy Associate] L egislation to reimburse for cancer treatment patient education and expand cancer symptom management and nursing research was introduced by House Cancer Caucus Cochair Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 11. Working with Representative Israel and his staff, ONS developed the legislative proposal to help ensure that patients have the information they need during their treatment. Known as the Assuring and Improving Cancer Treatment Education and Cancer Symptom Management Act of 2008 (H.R. 5585), the bill calls for • Amendments to Medicare to provide for coverage of a one-hour education session for patients and caregivers, ideally before the initiation of treatment (additional sessions are covered if a patient’s treatment protocol changes) • Expanded federal research on cancer symptom management and its improvement and provides for National Institutes of Health grants specifically to be awarded to nurse scientists • An Institute of Medicine report on cancer symptom management and nursing interventions. ONS thanks Representative Israel for his leadership on this important issue and is committed to working with him and his staff to secure as many cosponsors as Ilisa Halpern possible; the Paul, MPP more cosponsors a bill has, the more likely it is to see legislative action. ONS members need to contact their elected officials in the House of Representatives and ask that they cosponsor H.R. 5585. To learn more about H.R. 5585 and to ask your representative to become a cosponsor, visit www.ons.lac. ✱ You Have the Power to Make a Difference! Join ONStat Today ONS needs your help in shaping the future of oncology nursing and cancer care. ONStat, the ONS grass roots response network, is a great way to support ONS’s activities in Washington, DC, where the Society is continuously working to advance ONS’s Health Policy Agenda at the national level. Participation is easy—ONS members who enroll in ONStat will be contacted when one of their elected officials is critical to a legislative issue that ONS wants to influence in some way. You will receive background material on the issue to help you respond. Sample letters will be provided, along with your legislator’s contact information. The only criterion for selection is a willingness to respond when asked. Ensure that your policy makers hear your voice. Sign up for ONStat today! For more information or to enroll, visit www.ons.org/lac/onstat.shtml. APRIL 2008 ONS CONNECT 17 http://www.ons.lac http://www.ons.org/lac/onstat.shtml

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ONS Connect - April 2008

ONS Connect - April 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In Work-Life Balance A Year in the Life—Month Four Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Enhance Your Professionalism in Your Daily Practice Help Patients Integrate Yoga Into Cancer Care Caregiver Care Epigenetics Offers New Options for Cancer Diagnosis Working for You Calendar of Events Staying on Top

ONS Connect - April 2008

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