If you are in a state for one of the representatives listed below please call
them first thing tomorrow morning. This is a crucial amendment that keeps
getting lost in the shuffle.

WITHOUT this amendment any new cancer drug in oral form will not be covered IF
it did not already have an injectible form.

Here's one way to look at it "Gee Mom, there is a new cancer drug that you could
take that is known to be more effective. And because you take it as a pill it
causes you less problems (veins collapsing, needing to spend 30 minutes to a few
hours hooked up to an IV..). But Medicare won't cover it because it didn't
exist already as an injectible drug. "

More and more cancer drugs are coming out in a pill form. Don't let our
representatives break faith with us again by not passing this amendment.

The window is truly short. Call them. When you get through then email us or
call us so that we have an idea of where we need to hit harder to get more calls
in.

Then, do one more thing. Call your sister, or your best friend, or go over to
your next door neighbor and ask them to do the same. That's all. And if enough
of us call and get one other person to call - that will be enough. We will win
this battle. And it is so crucial.


Dear Advocates,

Please hit the phones!

Senator Rockefeller has signaled his intention to offer the oral cancer drug
bill as an amendment during the Senate Finance Committee mark-up on Thursday,
June 12. The Committee Chair is exerting considerable pressure on Finance
Committee members to refrain from offering amendments, and there is a
possibility the amendment will not be offered. However, we have today to be in
touch with Senate Finance Committee offices to express support for the
Rockefeller amendment to add oral cancer drug coverage to the Finance Committee
bill.

Members of the Senate Finance Committee are:

Republicans
Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chair, 202-224-3744
Senator Orrin Hatch (UT) 202-224-5251
Senator Don Nickles (R-OK) 202-224-5754
Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) 202-224-6253
Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) 202-224-5344
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) 202-224-4521
Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY) 202-224-6441
Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) 202-224-6324
Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) 202-224-3344
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) 202-224-3753
Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) 202-224-4343

Democrats
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Ranking Member 202-224-2651
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) 202-224-6472
Senator Thomas Daschle (D-SD) 202-224-2321
Senator John Breaux (D-LA) 202-224-4623
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) 202-224-2043
Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) 202-224-3041
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) 202-224-5521
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) 202-224-2742
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) 202-224-4843

Independent
Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) 202-224-5141

For more information on the language of the oral anti-cancer drug bill, please
visit the National Patient Advocate Foundation website at
http://www.npaf.org/statements.php?p=73. Thank you for your immediate attention
to this!

Peace and good health, believe in the Power of One!
Priscilla Savary
Executive Director
Colorectal Cancer Network
301-879-1500
301-879-1901 (x)
psavary@...
www.colorectal-cancer.net




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