Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2003

Guaranteed access to quality health care for all. Letter to Medicare conferees regarding NBCC principles for quality care. Department of Defense (DoD) peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) for fiscal year (FY) 2004. Enactment of S. 983/H.R. 1746, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. Meetings with key congressional staff regarding cosposorship. Phoned Members of Congress urging cosponsorship. Enactment of H.R. 1910, the Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act with strong enforcement provisions as defined by NBCC. Sent letters to Members of Congress urging strong enforcement provisions and floor statements. Oral anti-cancer medication demonstration program under Medicare. Wrote letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services and to the CMS Administrator urging them to include tamoxifen and other breast cancer treatments in this demonstration program.

Client expense: $200,150 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Defense, Dept of (DOD), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), SENATE

Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Dear Colleague letter to the Chairman of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee in support of level funding of $175 million for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. Urge enactment of H.R. 1288/S. 1037, the Access to Cancer Therapies Act which would provide Medicare coverage of oral anti-cancer drugs. This legislation will build on current Medicare policy by extending coverage to all cancer drugs, whether oral or injectable, for Medicare beneficiaries under Part B. Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act NBCC urges Congress to enact S. 983/H.R. 1746, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, which would make grants for multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research centers to study the potential links between the environment and breast cancer. These centers would award grants based on a competitive, peer-reviewed process that involves consumer advocates. Genetic Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act: NBCC urges Congress to enact H.R. 1910, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination in Health Insurance and Employment Act. This legislation, which has strong enforcement mechanisms that include a right to sue, would prohibit health insurers and employers from discriminating based on genetic information.

Client expense: $149,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), President of the U.S., SENATE, White House Office