July 14, 2017
Update: Health Care on the Hill
Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell released an updated version of the Better Care and Reconciliation Act (BCRA) this week. The newly released bill includes a number of compromises intended to woo moderates and conservatives alike, including scrapping the elimination of several taxes on the wealthy that helped fund the Affordable Care Act’s current coverage. Unfortunately, prevention remains at status quo in this iteration, which means funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund would come to an end starting in fiscal year 2018—just two and half months from now.
Additionally, the bill still leaves deep cuts to Medicaid by rolling back expansion and converting it from an open entitlement to a per capita program in which states would receive a set amount of funds per enrollee.
The Congressional Budget Office has not yet scored this version, but we will provide updates as they become available. Leader McConnell delayed the Senate August recess for two weeks and plans to bring the bill to a vote before the end of next month.
Prevention saves lives! Contact your senator’s office today and make your voice heard.
GOP Senators offer alternative plans for the BCRA
In the midst of all of the buzz surrounding the new draft of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), a few GOP senators have stepped forward to offer plans of their own as alternatives for consideration.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) successfully added a measure to the bill he calls the Consumer Freedom Amendment. In this amendment, insurers are able to sell plans that have less coverage—as long as they sell at least one plan that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act, which includes coverage for preventive services, pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits.
Alternatively, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a plan that would direct much of the Affordable Care Act’s funding directly to the states. Both senators believe the plan serves as a compromise between Republicans and Democrats. The bill intends to allow states more flexibility in providing support by keeping all of the taxes from the ACA and funneling that money back to the states.
Take our hereditary cancer quiz
Your family’s medical history can play a big role in your health, especially when it comes to your cancer risk. The Prevent Cancer Foundation® has launched a new hereditary cancer quiz to help you determine if you are at an increased risk for certain cancers.
This quiz takes less than one minute and will help assess for these hereditary cancers:
- breast cancer
- ovarian cancer
- colon or rectal cancer
- uterine cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- gastric cancer
- prostate cancer
- melanoma
Don’t forget to include both your mother’s and father’s sides of the family when answering questions. You can also fill out our Family History Chart to share with your medical professional and family members. To learn more about how family history can affect your cancer risk, click here.
Think About the Link® in Nashville
The Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Think About the Link® campaign is heading to Nashville to take part in the Tennessee Cancer Consortium’s Annual Conference on Thursday, July 20.
Tony Award-winning Broadway star and Think About the Link® spokesperson, Marissa Jaret Winokur, will be there to share her personal story about developing cervical cancer at the young age of 27. Now cancer-free, Winokur is committed to spreading the word about the link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer, and the importance of getting vaccinated and screened.
