Date: 2005-10-06
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the resolution offered by my friend and fellow Texan. Mr. HALL. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution. which would encourage CMS to extend a Medicare demonstration project that has maintained cancer patients access to chemotherapy. Approximately 9.6 million men. women. and children in the United States are currently living with a diagnosis of cancer. Despite the tremendous strides made in cancer research and cancer care. the disease unfortunately still ranks as the number two killer in the United States. exceeded only by heart disease. According to the American Cancer Society. I would note. however. as the program is more than 1.3 million new cancer cases will currently designed. it only applies to patients be diagnosed this year alone. receiving IV infusion and push chemotherapy. These individuals face a tough road ahead not to patients receiving oral chemotherapy. and difficult decisions about the path they will As was originally intended when Congress take in fighting this disease. created this demonstration program. it is critThis year. the Medicare program imple- ical that all patients. regardless of the method mented a demonstration project to look at of chemotherapy treatment. are included in the chemotherapy patients and the quality of care assessment of -these key quality of life factors they receive. . impacting their treatment for cancer. As it A good deal of cancer patients receive life- stands today. the data collected under the saving chemotherapy in physicians offices. QOL is incompletepatients receiving. oral However. the Medicare bill Congress therapies are not assessed in the same way. passed in 2003 reduced payments to physi- and their side effects cannot be compared to clans who administer chemotherapy in their of- the side effects of infused chemotherapy. As I fices. stated. I strongly support the continuation 6f This demonstration project has temporarily this demonstration program but I believe CMS alleviated some of the financial strains should act to ensure that data. is collected oncologists were to receive under the Medi- from patients receiving oral drugs as well as care bill- injectable drugs. And the result is continued patient access to Oral chemotherapy treatment can improve chemotherapy administered in the familiar and the quality of life for cancer patients by allowmoreconvenient office setting. . ing patients to have chemotherapy at home or Ultimately. the goal of the demonstration is work without daily visits to the doctors office to improve cancer treatment through a better or to a cancer infusion center. These treatunderstanding of the patient experience under ments can also be cost effective as they rechemotherapy. quire fewer physician visits and fewer invasive But we dont want to cut off patients access procedures. While these treatments are relto chemotherapy before we determine how � atively new. more are being developed each their cancer care could be improved. year and they can provide unprecedented While chemotherapy has literally been a life- freedom for Americans battling cancer. If we saver for countless cancer patients. it is not an are going to collect data and learn how to imeasy process to endure. prove the quality of life for those fighting canPatients often � experience pain. nausea. cer it is my belief that we should focus on colvomiting and fatigue while undergoing chemo- lecting data on all treatment options---including therapy. the very promising use of oral drugs. We know a great deal about chemotherapy Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker. I and its effect on patients. but our knowledge yield back the balance of my time. base is not complete. Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker. I Unfortunately. the cancer care demonstra- yield back the balance of my time. tion project is scheduled to end on December The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 31. 2005. question is on the motion offered by This resolution would encourage the Cen- the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. ters for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ex- DEAL) that.the House suspend the rules tend the cancer care demonstration project at and agree to the resolution. H. Res. 261. least through next year. as amended. By extending this project. CMS would con- The question was taken. and (twotinue to support chemotherapy services of- thirds having voted in favor thereof) fered in physician offices. the rules were suspended and the resoAt the same time. CMS would continue to lution. as amended. was agreed to. build on the information already gleaned from The title of the resolution was the project to improve the quality of care for amended so as to read: "Resolution exAmericans suffering from cancer. pressing the sense of the House of RepMr. Speaker. I thank Mr. HALL for his leader- resentatives that the Centers for Mediship on this issue and encourage my col- care & Medicaid Services should be leagues to join me in supporting this important commended for implementing the resolution.. Medicare demonstration project to as-