Power to the Patients: Patient Advocacy
For so many reasons, cancer patients can feel
very vulnerable. So we believe strongly in protecting
and improving cancer patients' rights. Here are some
ways you can learn more about the legislative and
congressional activities in progress to protect and
increase cancer patients' rights.
Multiple organizations, including US
Oncology, work
closely with the state and federal governments to
protect cancer care and increase patients' access
to the highest quality of care. Learn more about
the patient advocacy activities of the National
Cancer Institute, The Center for Patient Advocacy
and the
National
Patient Advocacy Foundation. For more information
on patient advocacy activities within the US Oncology
network or how you can contribute to this effort,
email Dan
Cohen,
Vice-President of Planning and Public Policy for
US Oncology.
Contact Your Elected Officials
If you don't know your senator or representative's
phone number in Washington, DC, you can call the
US Capitol Switchboard. The phone number for senators
is (202) 224-3121. The phone number for representatives
is (202) 255-3121. The Internet is another source
for telephone/fax numbers, e-mail addresses, and
background information, log on to congress.org or
to house.gov.
Making Effective Phone Calls
Most of the time, pursuing advocacy involves
little more than making a phone call to express your
opinions to your legislator. Calls are particularly
effective when they highlight a specific piece of
legislation, such as insurance coverage for participants
in cancer clinical trials, or minimum hospital stays
after mastectomy surgery. US Oncology and other organizations
are constantly monitoring federal and state level
cancer-related legislation, and serve as excellent
resources to help you stay informed and take action.
Writing a Letter/Sending a Fax/Sending an Email
The time-tested method of sending a written
communication to your senator or representative remains
one of the most effective ways to deliver your message.
What's new, however, is that you can now deliver
the message by mail, by fax or by sending an e-mail.
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