April7,2017HonorableCathyMcMorrisRodgers UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentatives1314LongworthHouseOfficeBuilding Washington,DC20515 RE:SupportforH.R.1834,CancerCarePaymentReformActDearRepresentativeMcMorrisRodgers:OnbehalfoftheOncologyNursingSociety(ONS),IwritetothankyouforintroducingH.R.1834,theCancerCarePaymentReformAct.ThislegislationwouldestablishanationalOncologyMedicalHomeDemonstrationProjectundertheMedicareprogramforthepurposeofchangingtheMedicarepaymentforcancercareinordertoenhancethequalityofcareandtoimprovecostefficiency.Asyouknow,cancerisoneofthenation’sleadingcausesofdeath.EachyearintheUnitedStates,approximately1.6millionpeoplearediagnosedwithcancer,another595,000diefromthisterribledisease,andmorethan14.5millionAmericanscountthemselvesamongthegrowingcommunityofcancersurvivors.Oncologynursesarethehealthprofessionalsinvolvedintheadministrationandmonitoringofchemotherapyandmanagingtheassociatedsideeffectscancerpatientsmayexperience.Everyday,oncologynursesseethepainandsufferingcausedbycancerandunderstandthephysical,emotional,andfinancialchallengesthatpeoplewithcancerfacethroughouttheirdiagnosisandtreatment.ONSisaprofessionalorganizationofover39,000registerednursesandotherhealthcareprovidersdedicatedtoexcellenceinpatientcare,education,research,andadministrationinoncologynursing.ONSmembersareadiversegroupofprofessionalswhorepresentavarietyofprofessionalroles,practicesettings,andsubspecialtypracticeareas.Oncologynursesareleadersinthehealthcarearena,committedtocontinuouslearningandleadingthetransformationofcancercarebyadvocatingforhigh-qualitycareforpeoplewithcancer.Thegrowingdemandforcancercare,frompreventiontopalliativecare,requiresoncologynursestoplayapivotalandincreasinglyimportantroleindeliveringhighquality,safe,effective,andefficienthealthcaretopeopleaffectedby,oratriskfor,cancer.Thankyouforrecognizingthisvitalpartoncologynursesplayincancercareinthislegislation.Westandreadytoworkwithyouandyourstafftosupporteffortstobuildabetterpaymentsystemforoncologycare,andONSiscommittedtomaximizingthepotentialthatnurses,thelargestgroupofhealthcareprofessionals,haveinreducingtheincidenceofcancer.Wewouldbe

happytodiscusswaysinwhichONSmaybeofassistanceinthisendeavor,andwouldencourageyoutocontactAlecStone,MA,MPA,ONSDirectorofHealthPolicy,atastone@ons.org.Welookforwardtoengaginginanongoingdialoguetoaddressissuesofimportancetoourcancerpatientsandwaysinwhichwecanpromotepublichealth.

Sincerely,

SusanSchneider,PhD,RN,AOCN®,FAAN President OncologyNursingSociety