Public Policy Priorities

Review some of FORCE's current legislative and regulatory policy priorities that impact the hereditary cancer community.
Privacy, Policy and Legal Issues > Public Policy Initiatives

February 2024 - U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations guide the use of many health screenings and determine which preventive services are available to patients at no cost under the ACA. FORCE submitted comments in response to the recently published draft USPSTF BRCA screening research plan. Once finalized, the latest studies will be analyzed and the guidelines will be updated accordingly.

Expand Medicare coverage of genetic counseling, testing, cancer screening & prevention

Medicare covers genetic testing only for people already diagnosed with cancer. For individuals with an inherited mutation causing increased cancer risk, many screenings and risk-reducing interventions are not covered. This legislation will modify the Medicare statutes to allow coverage of these potentially life-saving services.

August 30, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) notified FORCE that the recommendations on the Prevention of Lynch Syndrome-Related Cancer cannot "move into the final research plan stage and evidence review at this time.” While not directly stated, it appears that the Task Force is under-resourced and doesn’t currently have the capacity to develop the guidelines.

August 21, 2023 - Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will keep the billing codes for flap breast reconstruction surgeries. This means every woman will have access to advanced breast reconstruction options like DIEP and GAP flap. The decision was in response to a coordinated effort by multiple stakeholders. Our voices collectively came together, and CMS listened!

FORCE Submits Comments to the USPSTF

June 6, 2023 - The USPSTF recently proposed new breast cancer screening guidelines suggesting that individuals at average risk of breast cancer start mammograms at age 40, but only recommend screening every 2 years. We believe the recommendations will worsen health disparities, lead to confusion, and cost lives.
Read our comments.

January 2023 - Federal employees now have insurance coverage for fertility preservation and access to four plan options that will cover Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). All federal health insurance carriers will provide coverage for standard fertility preservation procedures for those facing the possibility of medically induced (iatrogenic) infertility, including infertility due to cancer treatments or risk-reducing surgery.

Take Action Now Become an Advocate 2024 Priorities State Policy Advocacy Archive

News Briefs

3/1/2024 - Provided feedback to CMS on the Medicare Advantage Advanced Notice and accompanying Part D Redesign Program provisions aimed at reducing and managing beneficiary out-of-pocket costs in the Medicare Part D program.

2/29/2024 - Wrote sponsors to endorse the BENEFIT Act, which would require the FDA to include in the benefit-risk assessment framework of a new drug application how patient experience data was considered in the review process.

2/28/2024 - Encouraged congressional leadership to support and enact the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries maintain access to essential pharmacist services.

2/22/2024 - Joined over 200 orgs in urging Congress to make important telehealth flexibilities permanent, to provide certainty, and safeguard against this important policy getting left behind among competing priorities at the end of the year.

More


Sponsored By:

Genetech Merck