CRANBURY, NJ, May 18, 2021 – In April 2021, the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc (AONN+), committed to stand alongside a broad spectrum of patients, advocacy organizations, cancer centers and healthcare professionals to support the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act of 2021, legislation that would ensure Medicare beneficiary access to genetic testing for cancer risk, increased screening, and risk-reducing interventions, when medically necessary and appropriate. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Elevating Cancer Equity working group recently made a recommendation to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other payers that “all payers should cover appropriate genetic counseling and testing for individuals at high risk of cancer as well as related risk reduction services.” This legislation will help alleviate disparities in early access to genetic testing and guided cancer prevention strategies. FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) is spearheading this potentially lifesaving legislation that will be introduced in June 2021.
In recent years, Congress has passed legislation allowing for coverage of certain cancer screenings for the “average risk” population (eg, mammograms, colonoscopies, and prostate-specific antigen tests). Meanwhile, those at high risk struggle to afford the recommended screenings and interventions—or forego them altogether. This exacerbates health disparities, hampers cascade screening, and ignores the value of prevention and early detection. The Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act aims to remedy this outdated policy to ensure Medicare beneficiary access to genetic testing for inherited cancer risk, increased screening, and risk-reducing interventions, when medically necessary and appropriate.
Please join FORCE for a:
Community/Stakeholder Advocacy Briefing
highlighting the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act of 2021
Wednesday, May 26, at 6:30pm ET!
Register by 6:00pm ET on May 25
For the full letter to Congress, please click here or to understand more about the act, click here to see the 1-pager.
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has nearly 8900 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process.
About the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship
The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (www.jons-online.com) is the official publication of AONN+. JONS seeks to strengthen the role of nurse and patient navigators in cancer care by serving as a platform for these professionals to disseminate original research findings, exchange best practices, and find support for their growing community.
About CONQUER: the patient voice magazine
CONQUER: the patient voice magazine (www.conquer-magazine.com) is the AONN+ premier forum for patients with cancer. CONQUER features articles written by and for patients with cancer, survivors, nurse navigators, and other oncology team members. This magazine addresses the issues that patients, their family members, and caregivers face every day in an easy-to-read format. Issues include interviews with patients with cancer, information on access to care, and articles on lifestyle topics such as nutrition, stress management, personal finance, and legal and employer issues. CONQUER also features patient stories that are nominated for the AONN+ Hero of Hope™ award, which is presented at the AONN+ Annual Conference. All stories are compiled in a special issue of CONQUER at the end of the year.
Gwen Coverdale, 267-884-6328
