Childhood Cancer
Federal Legislation
The Conquer Childhood Cancer Act
Introduced and authored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), this bill would bring hope to the more than 12,500 children who are diagnosed with cancer each year. Currently, over 40,000 children and adolescents are being treated for childhood cancers. Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota provides the majority of the clinical care for our region’s childhood cancer patients.
This legislation will provide critical resources for the treatment, prevention and cure of childhood cancer. The bill authorizes $150 million over a five-year period to expand support for biomedical research and programs of the existing National Cancer Institute, establish a population-based national childhood cancer registry, enable researchers to more accurately study the incidence of childhood cancer and long –term effects of treatments, and provide funding for informational and educational services to families coping with a diagnosis of childhood cancer.
For more information on this bill, visit www.thomas.gov and search for bill number S. 911.
The Healthy Living After Childhood Cancer Resolution
Also introduced by Senator Coleman and Senator Reed, this resolution is an attempt to raise awareness to gain support for efforts bolstering increased healthy living for childhood cancer survivors.
Many families have courageously won the fight against cancer, but continue to be challenged in their attempt to regain quality of life. For example, half of all childhood cancer survivors have long-term learning problems as a result of their cancer of the treatment of cancer. This is an important, but little known side effect of cancer that needs further attention by researchers, elected officials, teachers, social workers and families. The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States government should:
1. support neuropsychological research and testing of childhood cancer survivors and their families;
2. work with health care providers, educators, and childhood cancer advocacy and education organizations to encourage neuropsychological testing;
3. recognize and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to fighting childhood cancer by promoting awareness about the causes, risks, prevention, and treatment of childhood cancer;
4. promote new education programs about, research of, and expanded medical treatment for childhood cancer.
For more information on this resolution, visit www.thomas.gov and search for S. RES. 254.
State Legislation
The Healthy Living After Treatment For Childhood Cancer Act of 2008
This bill concerns the developmental needs of children and youth surviving childhood cancer and ensures these survivors are granted access to neuropsychological testing. This important legislation ensures that the needs of childhood cancer survivors are being met by including cognitive and developmental testing as a part of childhood cancer treatment covered under insurance. This legislation provides that prior authorization from state or private plans will not be required, and, beginning after enactment, both private and state insurers in Minnesota will have to cover neuropsychological testing for children diagnosed with cancer on or after January 1, 2000.
Due to the small number of potential children in the Medicaid program who would likely be subject to this testing; only minimal cost is anticipated.
Similar legislation is being passed throughout the country on a bipartisan and no opposition basis.
Click here for more information.
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