CMLSupport: A Letter From Dr. Brian Druker About Medicare

"Everywhere I go, I'm asked if I think the universities stifle writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them."
— Flannery O'Connor

A Letter From Dr. Brian Druker About Medicare

It is time to ask for assistance from the CML group and I would appreciate you posting this to the CML egroup.

With the impending approval of STI571, there are appropriate concerns about lack of coverage for Medicare patients.

Please see below for information about a bill that will be introduced quite soon.

"With the impending approval of STI571, there are appropriate concerns about lack of coverage for Medicare patients."

I think that CML patients need to take a proactive approach and I would suggest the following.

Someone needs to draft two letters.

One is to the cosponsors of the bills thanking them and telling them your stories.

The other should be to each of your national representatives, senate and congress, asking for their support of this bill.

Although the beginning and end of the letters can be the same, your stories are your own.

In telling stories, it would be useful, if appropriate, to point out if you did not think you would be here were it not for STI571 and if this medication were not covered that you would not be able to afford this lifesaving medication.

Please note, that Novartis will have a patient assistance program, but this is provided for impact.

I have attached information below about what is happening.

I must emphasize that time is of the essence. I believe that we are already behind where we should be, but view this as yet another opportunity for STI571 and CML patients to make a major impact.

Sincerely,

Brian Druker, MD

Medicare Letters

Rep. Deborah Pyrce (R-OH) has agreed to drop a bill in support of Medicare oral cancer drugs during the week of April 23rd.

1. We want to get copies of letters from Glivec patients residing in the Congresswoman's district, and/or the state and forward those to her. We'd also like to do this for the other co-sponsors who will be on the bill, namely the House Cancer Caucus, and several other Members of Congress. After the bill is introduced, we'd like to broaden this process, wherever possible, to target additional Members for co-sponsorships. (The more co-sponsorships we gain, the greater the support for passage.)

2. Also, we'd like to generate letters of thanks from patients to Pryce and the House Cancer Caucus for their leadership in congress on this important initiative. These would be from patients whom are political constituents of Rep. Pryce and the House Cancer Caucus.

3. Next, we want to geographically match patients with the Congressional districts of those respective Members we are trying to "persuade" to sign-on to the bill. Again, we'd ask these patients to write to their Member of Congress urging them to support and sign-on to the Pryce bill.

Rep. Deborah Pryce, Ohio, 15th District - Columbus area
Rep. Lois Capps, California, 22nd District - San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria areas
Rep. Ken Bentsen, Texas, 25th District - Baytown, Bellaire, Pasedena areas
Rep. Sue Myrick, North Carolina, 9th District - Charlotte, Gastonia areas
Rep. David Hobson, 7th District - Lancaster, Springfield areas
Rep. Tony Hall, 3rd District - Dayton area
Rep. Mark Foley, Florida, 16th District - Palm Beach Gardens, Port Saint Lucie areas
Rep. Dan Burton, Indiana, 6th District - Greenwood, Indianapolis areas.

Source: Dr. Brian Druker

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