A most troubling “experiment” is currently being proposed by the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) and it is not in the best interest of cancer patients. In fact, the proposal is so deeply disturbing that we are asking for your help in this situation because it could restrict your doctor’s ability to choose the best medication for each individual cancer patient.

A few weeks ago, CMS outlined a proposal to experiment with several alternative payment approaches for cancer drugs that are covered under Medicare Part B. This experiment was developed without any input from the oncology community. Even if you are not a Medicare recipient, these changes can also impact the care that you receive today.

If this CMS initiative is implemented, it could:

Limit patient access to the latest treatments available and change the way patients receive treatment
Interrupt patient care by causing patients to be shifted from their current doctor to a hospital, which will be more expensive for patients and CMS
Cause a rationing of drugs and medications

What Can You Do?

Please join us and over 300 cancer organizations, agencies and advocacy groups in urging CMS and congressional leaders in Washington to put a stop to this ludicrous experiment before it harms patients and restricts your doctor’s ability to choose the best medication for you. There are over 200 different types of cancer and every patient responds differently to the advanced and personalized therapies that are now available. You deserve to have an individualized treatment plan that accesses all available drugs and therapies.

The physicians and staff of Florida Cancer Specialists are asking you, along with your friends and family, to contact your Representatives in Congress and tell them to stop Medicare from experimenting and interfering with the way doctors choose to treat their patients.

Please take just one minute and click on the link below by April 30, 2016 to tell your Representatives in Congress to stop Medicare from experimenting and interfering with the way doctors choose to treat their patients:

No one stands to benefit from this experiment – and cancer patients, in particular, may be at greater risk than anyone of losing ground in the fight against cancer. We urge you to take action today and let your voice be heard!

Sincerely,

Florida Cancer SpecialistsStopMedicareExperiment

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