Welcome to the Community Oncology Alliance
Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN)
On behalf of our Medical Chairman Dr. Rick Frame and the Community Oncology Alliance, I would like to welcome you to participate in the COA Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN). The purpose of CPAN is to:
- Inform cancer patients, caregivers, and survivors about the forces impacting the delivery of cancer care;
- Network with others in the cancer community; and
- Advocate for the advancement of cancer care.
Practicing medical oncologist, Dr. Rick Frame explains “Doctors and dedicated staff fight hard for cancer patients every day. We fight to ensure the correct diagnosis and find the most effective treatment — and increasingly have to fight to get treatments paid for by insurance companies and Medicare. Unfortunately, in trying to shield our patients from the finances of cancer care, we have done a poor job of educating our patients to advocate on their own behalf. During the debate over health care reform, it has become obvious that the time has come for the entire cancer community to be involved in advocating for cancer care. The United States has the best proven cancer care in the world, yet there are aspects of certain health care reform proposals that threaten cancer care. We have to ensure that every American has equal access to quality, affordable and accessible cancer care. In order to do that, we have to be realistic about the shrinking resources provided to community cancer clinics, which treat 4 out of 5 Americans with cancer.”
CPAN will provide you with the opportunity to learn more about how changes in Medicare will impact cancer care in your community. By joining CPAN you will gain knowledge about these issues, network with other advocates, and lobby your congressional leaders.
On June 23, COA and CPAN will be on Capitol Hill, and you’re invited! If you would like to join us in Washington, DC, please visit our main site and click on the Stand Up for Cancer Care link. If you are interested in joining CPAN, please send me your contact information at roseg@COAcancer.org or call 202-756-2258 (office). To contact Dr. Rick Frame – rframe@utahcancer.com
The CPAN web page is in the process of being updated. We will be adding features with patient and volunteer interests in mind. In the interim, please visit the COA main page to learn more about the Community Oncology Alliance. Our main site is updated daily with breaking news on health care reform, policy, oncology, patient related news, and links to Facebook, and Twitter.
Our collective voices can have a powerful impact as we seek to stop the cuts to cancer care. I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Rose B. Gerber
Director Patient Advocacy/Breast Cancer Survivor
Community Oncology Alliance – Patient Advocacy Network (CPAN)
Call your members of Congress TODAY and ask for their help:
Help Stop the Cuts to Cancer Care!
Health care reform needs to fix cancer care; not break it further.
Get Involved in Advocating for Cancer Care!
Click here on how to contact your Representatives and Senators and what to say.
Click here for a brief explanation of the cancer care crisis that you can share with everyone you know — the Cancer Patients’ Right to Know.
Click here if you need more answers to your questions about the cancer care crisis.
Additionally, if you go to the Legislative Action Center on the COA homepage, you can send emails to your Representatives and Senators.