News

At a Feb. 21 press conference held by the Food and Drug Administration to discuss the latest shortage of methotrexate, ASCO President Michael P. Link, MD, praised the agency's efforts to address critical shortages, but said Congress needs to develop legislation that would result in permanent solutions.

"FDA, our pharmacists, physicians and manufacturers have cobbled together patches, but we cannot continue to practice medicine from crisis to crisis," Dr. Link said. "Many other drugs remain in shortage and we need permanent solutions." Read more at ASCO in Action.

ASCO is working closely with the Food and Drug Administration and national media to raise awareness about a current shortage of preservative-free methotrexate, a critical treatment for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), as well as other child and adult cancers. The targeted outreach over the past four days has resulted in coverage of the shortage and the Society’s perspective by numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, ABCNews, the Associated Press and Forbes.com.  To learn more, please visit ASCO in Action.

• The second day of hearings with the Committee on Health and Human Services for NH HB 1642-FN regarding proposed review exemptions for destination treatment centers continued Thursday with testimony from CTCA personnel.
• The committee is still deliberating its recommendation on whether to allow such exceptions.
• It was reported that during testimony, the CTCA cited invitations from officials in Maine to consider the location of a facility in their state.
• NNECOS remains concerned with the special exceptions being sought, and possible impact of a destination cancer hospital in our region.
• Legislators need to hear the voice of their constituents on this important issue!
  

NNECOS has become aware of a troubling legislative initiative in the New Hampshire House of Representatives that impacts cancer care in our region. New Hampshire House Bill 1642-FN proposes exemption for a “destination cancer hospital” from regulatory oversight and from supporting uncompensated care or Medicaid services. The significantly flawed rationale behind this legislation appears to be that investment in cancer care beds, equipment and services in New Hampshire should be permitted without regulation if you are a destination cancer center. Proponents of this legislation have not considered the likely consequences of this legislation. This legislative exception to the CON process that currently governs existing facilities would serve to disrupt the existing infrastructure of oncology care in the region and create financial stress to both hospitals and physician practices, reducing the availability of cancer treatment services to all NH citizens across the socioeconomic spectrum.

Read the complete member alert.

NNECOS welcomes your comments on this issue! Please post your reply or email info@nnecos.org.

Education:                  

The Foundation seeks to expand the level of knowledge among healthcare professionals and the public regarding the molecular origins of cancer, the role of genetics in cancer, cancer prevention methods and early detection strategies.

Patient Support:                                                                                  

The Foundation seeks to augment its commitment to cancer research and education by supporting programs that seek to assist patients and their families in dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

For Complete Guidelines and an Application visit www.mainecancer.org or phone 773-2533 for a packet.  Programs must be Maine based.  Typical maximum funding is $10,000 for one year; however, the Foundation will consider extending funding up to $50,000 for one project per year.   

• Rebecca Kirch, American Cancer Society, Director of Survivorship & Quality of Life
  

• Diana Dickson-Witmer MD, Commission on Cancer (CoC)

• Teresa Ponn MD, NH State CoC Liaison

• Breakout sessions featuring NH-based interventions and resources