Bill Overview
Title: A bill to address the health of cancer survivors and unmet needs that survivors face through the entire continuum of care from diagnosis through active treatment and posttreatment, in order to improve survivorship, treatment, transition to recovery and beyond, quality of life and palliative care, and long-term health outcomes, including by developing a minimum standard of care for cancer survivorship, irrespective of the type of cancer, a survivor's background, or forthcoming survivorship needs, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill establishes programs and requirements to support the provision of services for cancer survivors, including Medicare coverage of cancer care planning and coordination services, grant programs for navigation services for cancer survivors, and a model to provide cancer survivorship care planning for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Sponsors: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Target Audience
Population: Cancer survivors worldwide
Estimated Size: 18800000
- Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with millions of new diagnoses globally each year.
- Survivors of cancer face numerous challenges post-treatment, which this bill aims to address.
- With advancements in medical technology and treatment, the number of cancer survivors is expected to rise, making this an increasingly important demographic to support.
- The bill includes components aiming to standardize care, suggesting its potential global relevance.
Reasoning
- The policy targets cancer survivors, a significant population in the U.S., estimating around 18.8 million people as of recent data.
- The policy aims to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors by addressing post-treatment challenges through healthcare services, possibly having a positive effect on their well-being.
- Given the budget constraints, not all survivors might receive the same level of support, and impact might vary based on geographic and demographic factors.
- A range of simulated interviews will showcase varied impact levels, including those not directly benefiting from the program due to budget limitations or lack of coverage in certain programs.
Simulated Interviews
Graphic Designer (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a cancer survivor, coordinating my care is stressful. This policy sounds beneficial for stress management.
- It would be great to have a personalized survivor care plan, which I struggle to manage on my own currently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Houston, Texas)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've had a tough time finding the right care after my cancer treatment completed.
- The navigation services could be very helpful; I often feel lost in the system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Student (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 7 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm too young to fully grasp the system, but my parents struggle with managing my follow-up care.
- The care planning model under this policy might ease my parents' burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Software Engineer (New York, New York)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on private insurance, so I'm unsure how much this policy will affect me.
- It seems more focused on public insurance holders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Construction Worker (Cleveland, Ohio)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Managing my follow-ups post-treatment is challenging, and sometimes delays occur.
- The coordination services proposed could really alleviate some of my stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have great private healthcare coverage, so I may not need this policy.
- It’s good to know that others who lack financial resources could get some help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a dedicated care coordinator would clear a lot of confusion I currently experience.
- Really hoping Medicaid expands to cover these services more comprehensively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 9.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My family often stresses over follow-up care and appointments; this act could put their minds at ease.
- It seems like a good initiative to keep survivors in check for recurring issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Stay-at-home parent (Miami, Florida)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm overwhelmed by the logistical aspects of post-treatment; navigation services might be a godsend.
- Didn’t know such a policy could even help folks like me manage better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds good but lacks awareness; it has to be communicated better to reach those in need.
- More clarity on how to access these services would help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000000 (Low: $1600000000, High: $2400000000)
Year 2: $2100000000 (Low: $1680000000, High: $2520000000)
Year 3: $2205000000 (Low: $1764000000, High: $2646000000)
Year 5: $2315250000 (Low: $1855800000, High: $2778300000)
Year 10: $2426017500 (Low: $1941540000, High: $2911230000)
Year 100: $2426017500 (Low: $1941540000, High: $2911230000)
Key Considerations
- The bill spans various complex areas of healthcare requiring coordination between federal programs and private providers.
- High upfront costs contrasted by long-term financial and health benefits need to be balanced.
- Potential challenges in implementation and consistency in standard care across diverse populations.
- Significant administrative and operational challenges will need to be managed.