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Expressing Sense of House of Representatives that Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services Be Commended for Implementing Medicare Demonstration Project

Date: Oct. 6, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Senior Citizens Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net Health Insurance


EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES BE COMMENDED FOR IMPLEMENTING MEDICARE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT -- (House of Representatives - October 06, 2005)

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Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 261. This bipartisan resolution commends the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; and it calls on CMS, as the chairman has said, to extend this project through the year 2006. I am pleased that Members from both sides of the aisle join me as cosponsors of this very important resolution.

Delivering cancer treatment involves more than simply providing chemotherapy drugs. Oncologists need to plan drug regimens, educate caregivers, and monitor patient symptoms; and they are responsible for managing pain, minimizing nausea, and limiting fatigue.

The demonstration project was critically important to improving quality cancer care in 2005. It provided resources to assess a patient experiencing chemotherapy side effects, including pain, nausea and fatigue.

The project has achieved three important objectives: collecting data to improve the quality of cancer care, maintaining stability in the cancer care delivery system, and focusing limited resources in the aspect of cancer treatment most difficult for patients.

Oncologists in America are the lifeline to so many individuals facing the greatest challenge of their lives. Hearing the diagnosis of cancer is a frightening and lonely experience, and the men and women who devote their careers to fighting this disease are the healers these patients look to for help. As a Nation, we need to do all we can to support these oncologists.

I would like to thank the American Society of Clinical Oncology for working so closely with me and all of us on this resolution. I would certainly like to commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) and the staff of the Committee on Energy and Commerce for working with my office to bring this resolution to the floor today.

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