National Grange Urges Rural Caucus Members to Expand Cancer Care Access for Seniors

Washington, DC – Betsy Huber, president of National Grange, today sent a letter to Rural Caucus members of Congress urging their support in ensuring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implements a sustainable reimbursement solution for the innovative cancer treatment known as CAR-T therapy. Medicare’s current reimbursement process for CAR-T therapy is inadequate for many doctors and hospitals and can present access challenges for America’s seniors in rural areas.

“Seniors living in rural America are in jeopardy of facing significant access issues when it comes to receiving certain new innovative cancer therapies,” Huber writes. “That’s why we are urging your support in ensuring that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implements a sustainable access and reimbursement solution for CAR-T therapy. It is important this is done this year. Not only is CMS’s current reimbursement solution inadequate, but it also expires in September 2020.”

Cancer patient advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, and life science advocates have all called for a permanent and stable reimbursement solution for CAR-T therapy needed to ensure better access for America’s seniors with cancer. Without a solution, many seniors—particularly those in rural areas of the United States—could be faced with the difficult decision to forego the innovative CAR-T treatment, which has the potential to improve patient outcomes and save lives.

National Grange applauds the recent letter from 76 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives to create a long-term reimbursement solution and supports their efforts. In their letter, they urged CMS to create a new diagnostic related group (DRG) for CAR-T. In anticipation of CMS’s reimbursement proposal this April, National Grange urges Congress’ strong support in ensuring all of America’s seniors have access to the best cancer treatments.

National Grange partners from around the U.S. are voicing their support for a long-term solution:

• Roger Bostwick, president of Kansas State Grange
• Jimmy Gentry, president of North Carolina State Grange
• Sue Roy, president of Ohio State Grange
• Billy Shufeldt, president of Oklahoma State Grange: Trump administration has chance to expand innovation cancer therapy

To read the letter sent from National Grange to members of Congress, CLICK HERE