Every day, ASCO's work involves advocating public policy that ensures patient access to high-quality cancer care and supports increased clinical cancer research.  The ASCO in Action page on ASCO.org highlights ASCO's efforts on research policy, practice management, clinical affairs, quality of care, and government and state relations.

Timely Information

Although ASCO has previously communicated policy efforts on ASCO.org, this new page, which launched in March 2010, brings the timeliest updates to members, policymakers, advocates, and the general public.  Important content from ASCO in Action is then funneled as appropriate to other member communication vehicles, such as Cancer Policy Today and ASCO Express.

Topics covered include national health-care reform and private insurance issues; practice management issues such as Medicare, health plan policies, reimbursement, coding, and electronic health records; research policy and regulation surrounding clinical trials, research funding, and institutes such as NCI and FDA; and quality care issues such as clinical practice guidelines, disparities, prevention, end-of-life care, and ASCO's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI).

Regular Updates

ASCO is proud to demonstrate the actions it takes in advocating for members.  For the Society's positions on hot-button policy issues, multimedia directly from ASCO members on developments in cancer policy, and more information on how ASCO's initiatives impact policymakers on Capitol Hill, be sure to check the regular updates on the ASCO in Action page.

For more information on how you can contribute to ASCO's advocacy efforts, visit the Grassroots Action Center on ASCO.org under the Public Policy section. Here, you can find your local legislators' contact information, see the daily House and Senate schedules, and find sample letters and talking points to send to your congressmen and congresswomen. The actions of our government have an enormous impact on quality cancer care, so please educate yourself and take action.

Send us your feedback about the ASCO in Action page at publicpolicy@asco.org. ■

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