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3-26-10 This Week in Health Care Reform

Nearly one year ago (actually, a year ago next Friday), ACS CAN began a regular, weekly communication to you on health care reform efforts.  This week marked an "end to the beginning" of our work on this issue.  On Tuesday, Society and ACS CAN CEO John Seffrin, together with the Society Board Chair and President, George Atkins and Dr. Alan Thorson, attended a ceremony hosted by the White House commemorating the signing of the health care reform bill into law.  Yesterday, as the House and Senate both voted to pass the improvements package, ACS CAN staff delivered more than 58,000 petition signatures to Senate offices.  In a few days -- likely next Tuesday -- the improvements will be signed into law by the President. 

 

Thank you to all of you – staff and volunteers – who have labored long and hard over the past few years to get us to this point.  While there will continue to be important work to do, the immediate impact of these laws are tremendous, and I hope each of you takes a moment to celebrate this milestone for yourself. 

 

Implementation

 

As the legislative campaign concludes, we will begin to focus more of our attention and resources on the implementation phase of health care reform.  ACS CAN staff have been preparing for this since early January, but following final passage, the work begins in earnest. 

 

Additional implementation work will obviously be ongoing as further analysis is completed, with the goal of a formal menu of resources (fact sheets, WebExes, training opportunities) to be provided in the coming weeks.

 

Media Update

 

Public opinion polling conducted following the historic House vote last weekend shows growing support for the new health care reform law. A USA Today/Gallup Poll found that Americans approve of Congress passing the bill by 49 percent to 40 percent. Fifty-two percent of respondents said the new law either "makes the most important changes needed" in the health care system or is "a good first step," compared with 39 percent who said the law "makes the wrong type of changes" or that changes aren't needed. A CBS poll this week revealed that 52 percent of the public views passage of health care reform as a "major accomplishment." Thirteen percent said it was a "minor accomplishment," and 32 percent said passage of reform was not an accomplishment.

 

ACS CAN received several inquiries this week from reporters wanting to know how the law will affect people with cancer. As the media continue to shift their focus away from the legislative process and onto the law's impact on the health care system, we will have more opportunities to ensure that people have an accurate understanding of how specific provisions of the law will benefit patients. We are working on materials to assist Divisions in similar efforts, and are always available to offer guidance and support.

 

 

This will be the last of our weekly “This Week in Health Care Reform” communications to you.  Certainly, the need to continuously update you will continue in other forms. 

 

Thank you for all you do every day for those touched by cancer.  On a very personal note, it has been an extraordinary honor partnering with you in this effort and I look forward to our work ahead as we continue to make the law as strong as possible for cancer patients. 

 

 

Molly Daniels

Interim President

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

 



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