Sample Letter to Senators who have been supportive of cancer issues:
(Note: please add a personal paragraph about why you are supportive of these issues. Include brief
descriptions of how you, your family and your loved ones have been affected by a myeloma diagnosis)
Date
The Honorable (name of senator)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (name of senator),
Thank you for your support for cancer research funding and for
all cancer patients. I am writing to ask for your help in two issues.
First, please oppose any cuts to Medicare reimbursements for
oncology drugs. The current proposals that have been passed
the House and Senate would take at least $13-16 billion out of
Medicare reimbursements over the next ten years. If Congress
does not act to remove this provision in the Prescription Drug
and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003, rules recently proposed
by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would
go into effect on January 1, 2004. These rules would be even
more destructive to cancer patients than those currently under
consideration by Congress.
Second, please continue your strong support for at least an 8%
increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As
a member of the myeloma community, I know that research
advances will only occur if we grant the resources NIH and the
National Cancer Institute need to do the best work possible. It is
vitally important for these institutes to capitalize on the
knowledge we have gained from the Human Genome Project.
The current increases that have been passed by the House and
Senate do not accomplish these goals.
Thank you for your hard work on behalf of all cancer patients.
Sincerely,
Sample Letter to Senators who have been less supportive of cancer issues:
(Note: please add a personal paragraph about why you are supportive of these issues. Include brief
descriptions of how you, your family and your loved ones have been affected by a myeloma diagnosis)
Date
The Honorable (name of senator)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator (name of senator),
I am writing to ask your support for two issues vital to the
advancement of cancer research and to the health of all cancer
patients.
First, please oppose any cuts to Medicare reimbursements for
oncology drugs. The current proposals that have been passed
the House and Senate would take at least $13-16 billion out of
Medicare reimbursements over the next ten years. If Congress
does not act to remove this provision in the Prescription Drug
and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003, rules recently proposed
by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would
go into effect on January 1, 2004. These rules would be even
more destructive to cancer patients than those currently under
consideration by Congress.
Second, please continue your strong support for at least an 8%
increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As
a member of the myeloma community, I know that research
advances will only occur if we grant the resources NIH and the
National Cancer Institute need to do the best work possible. It is
vitally important for these institutes to capitalize on the
knowledge we have gained from the Human Genome Project.
The current increases that have been passed by the House and
Senate do not accomplish these goals.
Please support cancer research funding and oppose any cuts to
cancer care in the Medicare reform process. Your support is
needed to improve the health of all cancer patients.
Sincerely,
Sample Letter to members of the House of Representatives:
(Note: please add a personal paragraph about why you are supportive of these issues. Include brief
descriptions of how you, your family and your loved ones have been affected by a myeloma diagnosis)
Date
The Honorable (name of representative)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Rep. (last name of representative),
I am writing to ask your support for two issues vital to the
advancement of cancer research and to the health of all cancer
patients.
First, please oppose any cuts to Medicare reimbursements for
oncology drugs. The current proposals that have been passed
the House and Senate would take at least $13-16 billion out of
Medicare reimbursements over the next ten years. If Congress
does not act to remove this provision in the Prescription Drug
and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003, rules recently proposed
by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would
go into effect on January 1, 2004. These rules would be even
more destructive to cancer patients than those currently under
consideration by Congress.
Second, please continue your strong support for at least an 8%
increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As
a member of the myeloma community, I know that research
advances will only occur if we grant the resources NIH and the
National Cancer Institute need to do the best work possible. It is
vitally important for these institutes to capitalize on the
knowledge we have gained from the Human Genome Project.
The current increases that have been passed by the House and
Senate do not accomplish these goals.
Please support cancer research funding and oppose any cuts to
cancer care in the Medicare reform process. Your support is
needed to improve the health of all cancer patients.
Sincerely,

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