Sign the Stop Cancer Care Cuts Petition. Over 3,000 have signed in 2 days.

Most importantly, reach out to everyone you know to sign the petition.

Every member of Congress, as well as every candidate, needs to hear from all concerned about cancer care in this already charged political year.

In 2 days, the Stop Cancer Care Cuts Petition has over 3,000 signatures online, which does not count the paper petitions already being sent in via fax. Based on emails and comments from community oncology providers, it appears that there is real solidarity in sending the message that the cuts have to stop. The frustration level is clear among cancer care providers.

As we communicated, the cardiologists led by the American College of Cardiology filed a law suit against the HHS Secretary to stop implementation of the Medicare cuts. Unfortunately, the district judge has declined to hear that suit.

With the 2010 election year in full swing, it is critical that we send a clear message to every member of Congress about the destructive nature of the continuous Medicare cuts to cancer care. Regardless of the final outcome of health care reform legislation, we expect to see private insurers more closely follow Medicare changes. As a result, Medicare cuts to cancer care will likely impact overall reimbursement trends.

It is imperative that every member of Congress, as well as every candidate, hear from the cancer community about the crisis facing cancer care. So, we urge you not only to sign the petition, but also to ask everyone you know to sign the petition. Signing takes less than 60 seconds to fill in your name and location, and then respond to an email confirming that you are the signer.

Simply go to the COA website at http://www.communityoncology.org under Immediate Action Needed or click on the banner. In response to requests from practices, we have posted (under Immediate Action Needed, 2nd post) a paper petition and informational flyer. Practices are not only distributing this throughout all waiting and treatment areas in their facilities, but also staff members are distributing throughout the community. The stories coming in have been great about this effort.

We have also posted ideas for everyone to help get the word out about the petition. People are already using social networking sites like Facebook to spread the word. Follow the Community Oncology Alliance on Facebook, if you are not doing so already.

Coming together as a cancer community and putting aside all differences at this time is critical. Let’s work together to get the word out to every American about the crisis we all face in protecting and enhancing the world’s best cancer care delivery system.

Responding to the requests from practices, on the COA website is a paper version of the online petition.