[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SUPPORT EXTENDING THE CANCER CARE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

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                             HON. ZACH WAMP

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Mr. WAMP. Mr. Speaker, I praise my colleague Mr. Hall of Texas for 
introducing a resolution to get a sense of the Congress on the issue of 
extending the CMS quality of cancer care demonstration project. I 
recently authored a bipartisan letter to the President along with close 
to 100 of my colleagues, including Mr. Hall, asking the President to 
extend the demonstration project at the current $300 million funding 
level.
  I would like to note that extending the demonstration project is only 
treating the symptom and not curing the actual problem with the new 
Medicare payment system introduced this year. The old system overpaid 
for cancer drugs, which subsidized non-payment and under-payment of 
essential cancer care services provided by community cancer clinics. 
However, under the new system, which pays for drugs closer to market 
rates, certain essential services like treatment cancer planning are 
not paid for by Medicare.
  I urge my colleagues in supporting the extension of the cancer care 
demonstration project and directing CMS to work with community cancer 
care on permanent solutions. We have to ensure the viability of our 
Nation's cancer care delivery system and America's access to quality, 
affordable, and accessible cancer treatment.

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