Wasserman Schultz Introduces Cancer Survivorship Bill

Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) has filed the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA). As a breast cancer survivor and advocate, Wasserman Schultz has led the charge on issues related to cancer, and she affirms the CCSA is another effort to help those .

This week, the Florida Democrat took to social media to share that she had filed a bill that would “provide a lifeline to survivors and their families by addressing the entire survivorship continuum of care.”

Joining Wasserman Schultz in introducing the bill were a bipartisan group of colleagues including Massachusetts Rep. Mark Desaulnier (D), Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D), Maryland Senator Ben Cardin (D), and Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R).

Wasserman Schultz championed the bill, saying that it would “develop sweeping navigation services that emphasize continuum of care, follow-up, coordination, disparities & social determinants of health to aid all survivors on this journey.”

Moreover, Wasserman Schultz shared a statement, commenting that “as a fifteen-year cancer survivor, confronting it head-on, with an all-hands-on-deck approach is my personal and professional mission.” She added that the legislation “better enables cancer survivors to choose their own path, provides them agency and autonomy over their personal health experiences and decisions, and addresses the entire survivorship continuum of care.”

The bill helps survivors develop personalized treatment care plans, “establishes grants to promote utilization of navigation, employment of risk-stratification, transition to primary care, utilizations of care plans, potential use of at-home care, and better use of information technology for patient experience data,” and it will also create resources for survivors and health professionals to spread awareness among other benefits.

By 2040, there will be an estimated 26 million survivors, and “there is a pressing need to empower them with the best possible resources and care to overcome this terrible disease” according to Wasserman Schultz’s website.

The press conference can be viewed here.