VBCF is working with the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) to enact federal legislation that would waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility and the 5-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for individuals with metastatic breast cancer. The median life expectancy for patients with metastatic breast cancer is just 26 months, so these waiting periods create an undue burden on the patient and their families trying to receive timely access to quality health care services.
Action Needed:
Call your U.S. Representative
H.R. 2178, The Metastatic Access to Care Act was introduced on April 9, 2019. While this bill has bipartisan support and 47 co-sponsors, No Virginia Representatives have yet signed on to support this bill.
VBCF’s volunteer advocates met with members of our Virginia congressional delegation during National Breast Cancer Lobby Day on April 30th about this bill. VBCF has followed up since then, but hearing directly from constituents is even more important. Please call your Representative today to ask him/her to co-sponsor this bill.
If your Representative agrees to co-sponsor, they should contact Deena Tauster in Representative King’s office at deena.tauster@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-7896 or Elizabeth Brown in Representative Castor’s office at elizabeth.brown@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-3376.
Call your U.S. Senators
S.B. 1374, the companion bill to H.R. 2178 was introduced in the Senate just yesterday, May 8, by Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Chris Murphy (D-CT). Please contact Senator Tim Kaine at (202) 224-4024 and Senator Mark Warner at (202) 224-2023 and ask them to co-sponsor this bill.
If they agree to co-sponsor, they should contact Pace McMullan in Senator McSally’s office at Pace_McMullan@mcsally.senate.gov or Elizabeth Darnell in Senator Murphy’s office at Elizabeth_Darnall@murphy.senate.gov
*Please let me know if you have questions or your legislator agrees to co-sponsor the bill: kirsta@vbcf.org or by filling out the Advocacy Activity Tracker.
