[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5560 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5560

  To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve quality of cancer 
  care and quality of life for patients and survivors by coordinating 
   development and distribution of information about relieving pain, 
 symptoms, side effects, and stress; increasing awareness of treatment 
and post-treatment health risks for survivors; enhancing research into 
      symptom management and survivorship; increasing health care 
  professional education and training; reducing health disparities in 
   cancer treatment, symptom management, and survivorship care; and 
   expanding and enhancing cancer registries; and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2010

Mr. Moore of Kansas (for himself, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Berman, Mr. Cao, Mr. 
Clay, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Ms. 
   Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Ms. 
    Kilroy, Mr. LoBiondo, Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Markey of 
   Massachusetts, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. 
Richardson, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Spratt, and Ms. Waters) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve quality of cancer 
  care and quality of life for patients and survivors by coordinating 
   development and distribution of information about relieving pain, 
 symptoms, side effects, and stress; increasing awareness of treatment 
and post-treatment health risks for survivors; enhancing research into 
      symptom management and survivorship; increasing health care 
  professional education and training; reducing health disparities in 
   cancer treatment, symptom management, and survivorship care; and 
   expanding and enhancing cancer registries; and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Quality Cancer Care for Life Act of 
2010''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVING QUALITY OF CANCER CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR 
              PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS.

    Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 317U. INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND OUTCOMES MONITORING TO IMPROVE 
              QUALITY CARE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND 
              SURVIVORS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this section 
referred to as the `Director'), shall improve the quality of cancer 
care and quality of life for cancer patients and survivors by expanding 
cancer control programs of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program 
and the National Program of Cancer Registries.
    ``(b) Coordination of Federal Cancer Care and Survivorship.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall direct the 
        coordination of appropriate agencies described in paragraph (2) 
        for the following purposes:
                    ``(A) To develop information and support to States 
                to--
                            ``(i) incorporate evidence-based, best 
                        practice strategies into Comprehensive Cancer 
                        Control Program activities and services of such 
                        States; and
                            ``(ii) improve systems of care and care 
                        delivery by including promotion of care 
                        supporting quality of life for cancer patients, 
                        survivors, and the family caregivers of such 
                        patients and survivors.
                    ``(B) To develop service delivery efforts with 
                special emphasis on addressing the particular needs of 
                childhood and adolescent cancer patients and survivors, 
                as well as patients and survivors in low-income, 
                racial, or ethnic minority groups, and other medically 
                underserved populations.
                    ``(C) To improve the National Program of Cancer 
                Registries and other existing surveillance systems for 
                tracking cancer patients and survivors and assessing 
                their health status and risk for other chronic and 
                disabling conditions.
            ``(2) Appropriate agencies.--Appropriate agencies described 
        in this paragraph include the Office of Cancer Survivorship at 
        the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of 
        Nursing Research, and such other appropriate agencies as 
        determined by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Improving State and Local Programs To Address Cancer Care and 
Survivorship.--In conducting or supporting State and local 
comprehensive cancer control programs through the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the Secretary shall provide funding and support 
to States, localities, and territories to expand and enhance such 
programs for the following purposes:
            ``(1) To include emphasis on quality cancer care and 
        survivorship, and provide information and support for quality 
        care initiatives for all cancer patient and survivor 
        populations including women, children, adolescent, minority, 
        and other medically underserved populations.
            ``(2) To develop and strengthen community outreach and 
        education programs, resources, interventions, and campaigns; 
        strengthen community information delivery systems to inform 
        patients, survivors, and family members about quality of life 
        support and services available to relieve pain, symptoms and 
        stress; increase awareness of treatment and post-treatment 
        health risks and challenges; and provide follow-up care 
        important for survivors. Such programs may--
                    ``(A) create and disseminate easily accessible, 
                culturally appropriate communication materials and 
                resources tailored to specific audiences;
                    ``(B) inform patients, survivors, and family 
                caregivers about particular symptoms, side effects, and 
                late effects often associated with specific types of 
                cancer or treatments and the importance of addressing 
                them as essential elements of quality health care 
                across the life course, including information on pain, 
                nausea, fatigue, or other physical symptoms; worry, 
                stress, or other psychological or emotional symptoms; 
                lymphedema; cancer-related oral health issues and oral 
                care; sexual dysfunction; fertility concerns and 
                fertility preservation options; specific side effects 
                or late effects that may affect overall health and well 
                being; survivorship follow up care; and any other 
                health-related conditions that are known to be 
                experienced as a result of cancer by patients, 
                survivors, and their family caregivers across the life 
                course;
                    ``(C) provide resource and referral information 
                about other specific issues faced by cancer patients, 
                survivors, and their families, including financial 
                concerns, employment rights, medical leave, insurance 
                coverage, anticipating and managing late effects of 
                treatment and recurrent disease, advance care planning 
                (including advance directives, living wills, and 
                durable powers of attorney), and other care planning 
                involved in health and medical decision-making; and
                    ``(D) assist patients, survivors, and family 
                caregivers with information about how to communicate 
                effectively with health professionals about physical 
                and psychological symptoms, and limitations or barriers 
                to normal daily function that may be caused by 
                treatment of cancer.
            ``(3) To include special emphasis on addressing the 
        particular needs of children and adolescent cancer patients and 
        survivors, as well as patients and survivors in low-income, 
        racial, or ethnic minority groups, and other medically 
        underserved populations.
    ``(d) Cancer Care and Survivorship Demonstration Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall award competitive 
        grants to States, localities, and not-for-profit organizations 
        for the purposes of developing, implementing, and evaluating 
        cancer case management and coordination programs to enhance the 
        quality of cancer care and quality of life for patients and 
        survivors and to improve cancer outcomes. Specific emphasis 
        shall be on addressing relief of symptoms, pain, side effects, 
        and stress; increasing patient awareness of treatment and post-
        treatment health risks; and survivor care.
            ``(2) Application.--A State, locality, or not-for-profit 
        organization seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit 
        to the Director an application (at such time, in such manner, 
        and containing such information as the Director may require), 
        including assurances that the State, locality, or entity will--
                    ``(A) serve medically underserved populations 
                through specific outreach activities and coordinate 
                culturally competent and appropriate care in accordance 
                with existing, relevant departmental guidelines; and
                    ``(B) evaluate and disseminate to the public 
                annually detailed information about program activities.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--A State, locality, or not-for-profit 
        entity shall use grant amounts awarded under this subsection to 
        carry out programs that create partnerships with community 
        organizations, including health care providers, cancer centers, 
        hospitals, community health centers, palliative care programs, 
        psychosocial care programs, hospice programs, home care, 
        nonprofit organizations, health plans to facilitate access to 
        integrated care services that support quality of life needs for 
        patients, survivors, and family caregivers. Such activities 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) patient navigation and referrals, including 
                assistance to patients and survivors in finding support 
                groups;
                    ``(B) interventions for patients, survivors, and 
                caregivers; pain management; palliative care; 
                psychosocial care; hospice; or other end of life care 
                programs;
                    ``(C) general advocacy on behalf of patients, 
                survivors, and families; and
                    ``(D) an evaluation to identify best practices to 
                improve the coordination of cancer and survivorship 
                care services and activities.
            ``(4) Evaluation and reporting.--The Director shall 
        evaluate activities funded under this subsection and shall 
        submit to Congress (and disseminate to the public) reports 
        related to such evaluation, including findings, outcomes, and 
        other program information. The first report shall be submitted 
        not later than January 1, 2013, with updates provided every 
        three years thereafter.
    ``(e) Health Care Professional Education and Training Demonstration 
Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall award competitive 
        grants to not-for-profit entities or qualified individuals for 
        the purpose of training individuals to undertake the quality of 
        life needs of cancer patients, survivors, and family 
        caregivers.
            ``(2) Application.--A not-for-profit entity or qualified 
        individual seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit 
        an application to the Director at such time, and in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Director may 
        require, including assurances that the entity or individual 
        will--
                    ``(A) improve health professional communication 
                skills in caring for patients and survivors to more 
                effectively assess and address their quality of life or 
                survivorship concerns;
                    ``(B) assess and relieve pain, symptoms, side 
                effects, and stress associated with cancer and its 
                treatment;
                    ``(C) promote care planning to align treatment with 
                patient and family goals;
                    ``(D) anticipate and communicate about cancer 
                treatment and post-treatment health risks and follow-up 
                care;
                    ``(E) provide palliative, psychosocial, or other 
                care to support quality of life integrated as part of 
                disease-directed treatment to improve quality of cancer 
                care;
                    ``(F) promote use of survivorship care planning;
                    ``(G) improve cultural sensitivity, communication, 
                and patient care for minority and medically underserved 
                populations, including addressing the particular needs 
                of children, adolescents, and their families; racial 
                and ethnic groups, and other medically underserved 
                cancer patient and survivor populations; and
                    ``(H) collect and analyze data related to the 
                effectiveness of education and training efforts.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--An eligible entity shall use grant 
        amounts awarded under this subsection to train and develop 
        individuals with skills needed to assist the quality of life 
        needs of cancer patients, survivors, and family caregivers by 
        addressing symptoms, pain, side effects, stress, treatment, and 
        post-treatment health risks and train individuals to assist in 
        arranging follow-up care across the life course.
            ``(4) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall develop and 
        implement a plan for evaluating the effects of professional 
        training programs funded through this subsection.
            ``(5) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `qualified individual' means a physician, nurse, social 
        worker, chaplain, psychologist, or other individual who is 
        involved in providing palliative care and symptom management 
        services to cancer patients.
    ``(f) Quality of Life Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish 
        a Quality of Life Advisory Committee (in this subsection 
        referred to as the `advisory committee') to advise, coordinate, 
        and assist the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 
        creating and conducting the cancer quality of life and 
        survivorship activities, program enhancements, and training 
        initiatives specified in subsections (a) through (e).
            ``(2) Membership.--The Secretary shall appoint to the 
        advisory committee such members as the Secretary considers 
        necessary, and shall include individuals and representatives of 
        public and private organizations with expertise in cancer 
        treatment and care; pain, symptom, and stress management; and 
        cancer survivorship.
            ``(3) Duties.--The advisory committee shall meet at least 
        once a year and shall--
                    ``(A) consider and summarize recent advances 
                achieved in cancer symptom management and survivorship 
                research relevant to the goals of this section and 
                identify gaps in basic, clinical, behavioral, or other 
                research required to achieve further improvements in 
                care to support quality of life and survivorship; and
                    ``(B) annually submit to the Secretary a report on 
                the findings described in subparagraph (A) with 
                recommendations about additional research needed to 
                improve care for cancer patients, survivors, and 
                families that will support quality of life and 
                survivorship.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary.''.

SEC. 3. ENHANCING RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF QUALITY OF LIFE, AND CANCER 
              SURVIVORSHIP.

    Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 409K. QUALITY CANCER CARE AND CANCER SURVIVORSHIP RESEARCH.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of 
Health shall, in coordination with recommendations of the Quality of 
Life Advisory Committee established under section 317U(f), undertake 
additional cancer quality of life and survivorship research that 
addresses pain, symptom management, side effects and late effects, and 
psychosocial factors to improve cancer clinical communication and care 
planning, treatment and post-treatment, and follow-up care across the 
life course.
    ``(b) Authorized Research.--Research supported under this section 
may include at least the following:
            ``(1) Examination of evidence-based practices relating to 
        cancer care, survivorship, and follow-up care including 
        comparing community-based public health interventions.
            ``(2) Analysis of the translation of cancer interventions 
        from academic settings to real world settings.
            ``(3) Lifestyle, behavioral, and other research on the 
        impact of cancer treatment and survivorship.
            ``(4) Formative research to assist with the development of 
        educational messages and information, for dissemination to 
        targeted populations such as children, adolescents, racial and 
        ethnic minority groups, and other medically underserved groups, 
        on the residual effects of cancer treatment.
            ``(5) Health disparities in cancer survivorship outcomes 
        within minority or other medically underserved populations.
            ``(6) Intervention research to prevent or treat the post-
        treatment effects of cancer treatment.
            ``(7) Identification of the unique needs of patients who 
        are diagnosed with rare or deadly cancers or cancers that have 
        not been well studied.
            ``(8) Development of a consistent, standardized model of 
        service delivery for cancer-related follow-up care across 
        cancer centers and community oncology practices.
            ``(9) Development, testing, and communication of messages 
        for patients, survivors, and health professionals that will 
        improve understanding, demand for, and delivery of care to 
        relieve pain, symptoms, stress, and other quality of life 
        factors associated with serious illnesses such as cancer.
    ``(c) Funding.--Such funds as necessary to accomplish the 
requirements of subsection (a) shall be available from funds reserved 
under section 402A(c)(1) for the Common Fund or otherwise available for 
such initiatives.''.
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