Comprehensive cancer care is coordinated, integrated care that involves providers and patients working together to address the particular and varied issues affecting millions of cancer survivors.

H.R. 1078, The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act

H.R. 1078, The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (CCCIA), bears that name because it aims to ensure cancer patients access to care that combines curative therapy with symptom management. The Act itself is also comprehensive because it offers an aggressive and thorough set of recommendations for reform of the system of cancer care.

Over the past twenty-five years, the number of cancer survivors has increased from three million to ten million. The growth in this population is due largely to progress in the treatment of cancer. However, this system of advanced treatment has often failed to provide survivors with care that addresses the side effects of both cancer and its treatment, which have a significant effect on their quality of life. Cancer survivors may not receive appropriate management of pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and depression, and may not have access to psychosocial services. Many cancer patients do not receive a treatment plan at the beginning of therapy, or a summary of their care and plan for monitoring and follow-up care at the end of treatment.

The Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act (CCCIA) includes a number of proposals that would advance a system of integrated cancer care and improved communication between patients and their health care teams regarding treatment options and follow-up care. By reforming Medicare reimbursement, enhancing training of professionals who treat cancer survivors, and testing and expanding model systems of integrated care, the Act would advance a system of quality, comprehensive cancer care.

To read the full text of H.R. 1078, the CCCIA, click here.
To make your voice heard in Congress regarding this bill, click here.

Evidence of the need for comprehensive cancer care

The reforms proposed in the Act are consistent with key recommendations of the 2005 Institute of Medicine report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition. Key among these recommendations are proposals that: 1) cancer survivors completing care be provided a treatment summary and follow-up plan and 2) programs be developed to encourage interdisciplinary systems for providing integrated cancer care.

Provisions of the Act

If passed, the CCCIA would: