Wasserman Schultz Reintroduces Bill to Care for Cancer Survivors

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) reintroduced the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act (CCSA) alongside three other Democratic United States lawmakers. The bill is dedicated to addressing the “gaps in survivorship care and develop desperately needed standards to improve the overall patient-centered quality of care and navigation needs of cancer survivors and their families.”

As most cancer survivors and their families know, the looming possibility of recurrence can be daunting.

However, the CCSA will look to “set new standards of care” from diagnosis to the end of life.

“As a fifteen-year cancer survivor, confronting it head-on, with an all-hands-on-deck approach, is my personal and professional mission. With the Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, I am proud to introduce far-reaching legislation that 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,” said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.

She would go on to mention, “From the point of diagnosis, through active treatment and transitions to primary care, until the end of life, this legislation sets the standards of care that all survivors need and deserve. The CCSA confronts care planning, transition, navigation, workforce, education, and awareness, and empowers survivors with the best possible resources and care to overcome this terrible disease. NO survivor or family should be left in the wilderness to navigate this disease or its aftermath.”

Alongside Rep. Wasserman Schultz, former presidential candidate and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) that the CCSA will address the “unique treatment” that cancer survivors need.

“As a result of advances in early detection and access to effective treatments, more people are recovering after their cancer diagnoses. That’s why we must do everything we can to improve care services and quality of life for cancer survivors,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will do just that, ensuring that more survivors receive comprehensive, coordinated post-diagnosis and post recovery care that addresses their unique treatment needs throughout the course of their life.”

The main tenants of the bill will address care planning and transition, alternative payment models, navigation of the continuum of care, quality of care, employment, and education and awareness to promote early detection of patients.