• State Lead Advocates Convene at Annual Summit
• Take Action: Support Brain Tumor Research Funding
• Update: Oral Chemotherapy Parity

State Lead Advocates Convene at Annual Summit 
A few weeks ago, the National Brain Tumor Society State Lead Advocates gathered at our 2013 Summit to discuss recent work and future opportunities. As leaders in their communities, the State Lead Advocates are instrumental in helping to educate local policymakers on key public policy issues affecting the brain tumor community, recruit additional volunteer advocates, and serve as mentors to all in their area.

Interested in becoming more involved as an advocate in your state? Please contact Lainey Titus Samant, LSamant@braintumor.org to learn more.

Take Action: Support Brain Tumor Research Funding 
On October 24, National Brain Tumor Society joined One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) in Washington, DC to ask Congressional leaders to help return the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding to pre-sequestration levels. As you may remember, the ongoing sequestration has reduced funding across many government programs, including research funding at the NIH, and reduced the availability of clinical services for new patients. Members of Congressional budget committees are now working to come to an agreement on a budget resolution prior to their December 13, 2013 deadline.

Please click here to join us in asking the your members of Congress to restore NIH funding to healthy levels.

Update: Oral Chemotherapy Parity 
As you know, the issue of oral chemotherapy parity is a major concern for many brain tumor patients whose best option for treatment is the oral medication temozolomide, or Temodar®. Fortunately, 27 states have now passed oral chemotherapy parity legislation to ensure patients have affordable access to this treatment. However, federal legislation is necessary to guarantee that all insurance plans nationwide will provide oral chemotherapy to patients at a no less favorable rate than intravenous chemotherapy.

Currently, there are 63 co-sponsors of the Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act in the US House of Representatives and we are working with other officials to file a companion bill in the US Senate. Check here to see if your member of Congress is one of the Bill’s supporters. Not sure who your Representative is in Congress? Click here to find out. 

Thank you again for your support and for taking action with the National Brain Tumor Society. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against brain tumors. 

David F. Arons 
Senior Director of Public Policy 
darons@braintumor.org