Sequestration Poses "Triple Threat" To Cancer Patients

ASCO is calling on members throughout the United States to urge Congressional lawmakers to prevent the looming budget cuts to cancer care, research, and the drug review process. The mandated cuts, known as “sequestration” under the Budget Control Act of 2011, will automatically go into effect in January 2013—unless Congress acts.

According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), sequestration will reduce the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute, and the Food and Drug Administration budgets each by 8.2 percent (about $2.5 billion and $318 million, respectively) and Medicare payments to physicians by two percent (more than $11 billion) beginning in January 2013.

Citing the negative impact to millions of individuals who have cancer, ASCO warns the sequestration cuts to cancer research, oncology practices, and the drug review process will affect the 1.6 million individuals newly diagnosed with cancer each year, 12 million Americans living with cancer, and many millions more who will receive a cancer diagnosis over the next decade.

ASCO encourages its membership to make phone calls, write emails, and send letters to their Congressional delegation to underscore the need to identify a solution to the “fiscal cliff.” For sample messages and Congressional contact information, visit the Act Network.

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