Meeting with Courtney Sosnowski, health staffer from Rep. Bob Good’s office.
VBCF is grateful to our inspiring advocates who made an impact during the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) annual breast cancer Lobby Day on May 3, 2022.
Our group had Zoom meetings with staff from the offices of Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th); Rep. Ben Cline (R-6th); Rep. Bob Good (R-5th); Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10th), Rep. Rob Wittman (R-1st); and Senator Warner. Advocates asked legislators to co-sponsor the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (HB 3183/S. 1312) which would eliminate the waiting periods for Medicare (24 months) and Social Security Disability benefits (5 months) for eligible individuals living with metastatic breast cancer.
The average life expectancy for patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is 36 months. Waiving the waiting periods for benefits would allow patients to access the health care they need sooner and help lessen their stress and financial burden. During Lobby Day, VBCF advocates shared powerful personal experiences about why this is so vitally important:
“When I was diagnosed with MBC, I applied for disability (benefits). But I had to wait. So I was faced with the choice between caring for myself and caring for my family. I couldn’t stop working because I needed to take care of my kids. I couldn’t work because I needed to take care of myself. But, I still have to pay the bills. I know people who have passed away before receiving their benefits. The longer you wait, the sooner you die.”
Leecy
“The doctor said I needed treatment immediately, and if I didn’t get treatment, I might have less than two years to live. I was fortunate to have military health care. Because I got timely treatment, I’m still here for my four children and my husband. But many in my support group did not. Access to treatment for MBC means being there for a child to graduate, to get married, or to see a grandchild be born.”
Jackie
Persistence pays off
Since our Lobby Day meetings, VBCF staff, Board members, and advocates have been following up with our Virginia legislators. As a result, three new co-sponsors have signed on to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act – Rep. Donald McEachin (D-4th); Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-10th); Rep. Robert Wittman (R-1st). Virginia now has eight co-sponsors, the most we’ve ever had for this bill! Great job, advocates!
To bring the Metastatic bill to a vote in the US House of Representatives, a majority of Representatives (218) need to become co-sponsors. With 207 House co-sponsors as of July 6, we are only 11 co-sponsors away!
TAKE ACTION!
You can help us get to 218 co-sponsors by contacting these remaining VA Representatives who have not signed on yet:
Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th): (202) 225-4376
Rep. Ben Cline: (R-6th) (202) 225-5431
Rep. Bob Good: (R-5th) (202) 225-4711
SAMPLE MESSAGE:
“I am a constituent of Representative X from (your home city/county), VA, and I am calling to ask the Representative to co-sponsor HR 3183, The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. This bill is important to me as a (breast cancer survivor/patient/advocate) because it ensures that individuals with metastatic breast cancer don’t have to wait to get access to the care they need.”
Questions?
Contact VBCF Policy Manager Kirsta Millar: kirsta@vbcf.org
