Reed in Schuyler to promote treatment act

MONTOUR FALLS--U.S. Congressman Tom Reed (R--Corning) visited Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls Tuesday, Oct. 14. He discussed his bipartisan Ensuring Equal Access to Treatments Act, that would ensure seniors suffering from cancer, heart disease and other illnesses have access to the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art treatments. The bill would require Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use fair payment classifications for breakthrough bladder cancer treatments, as well as other clinically necessary services that are being negatively impacted by CMS policies.
"Caring for patients means putting them first," Reed said. "Our bill will ensure that seniors have fair access to the proper, most up-to-date treatments for their condition. This is a message to Washington that their policies are having a negative effect on patients across our country."
The bill continues to garner support from the health industry including the Bladder Cancer Action Network, Society of Women's Health Research (SWHR) and leading university medical centers such as the Mayo Clinic and Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
"With so few advances in the disease, it is vital that patients have access to new technology," said Monica Smith, executive director of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). "This change in the rule would greatly benefit the bladder cancer community."