October 2019 – COA Patient Advocacy Network News Bulletin
The Florida CPAN chapter, representing more than 100 community oncology practices at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), convened advocates on September 11, 2019 to discuss lessons learned from their recent series of Sit In My Chair congressional meetings.
Sit in My Chair is a COA program that allows practices to introduce elected officials to the value of community oncology through an office visit where clinicians show them what it’s like to receive a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Led by Beth Wittmer, RN, BSN, OCN, and Director of Care Management, and supported by the efforts of our CPAN Chapter Advocacy Liaisons in multiple FCS locations, the Sit in My Chair event was a great success.
Texas Oncology held an educational event at their Austin location on September 5, 2019 to educate CPAN chapter members about the role nurses, patients and oncologists play in advocacy. Debra Patt, M.D., MPH, MBA, a practicing oncologist and executive vice president of Texas Oncology, led a discussion with patients on multiple topics including step therapy – often referred to as “fail first” step therapy – and how it poses a danger to the care community oncologists are so committed to providing. CPAN believes that patients deserve the medications their doctors prescribe – not ones that insurers want them to try first.
Chapter Spotlight: Dayton Physicians Network
Community oncology practices across the country treat the majority of cancer patients in the United States and are critical components of the community. In Ohio, CPAN chapter member Dayton Physicians Network gives patients the tools and training they need to bring their personal stories to life.
Dayton advocates like Sandy, a former elementary school vice principal and teacher, know from first-hand experience that compassionate, personalized care is one of community oncology’s great strengths, and she gets lots of satisfaction out of making the case for community oncology as a CPAN advocate.
Sandy received superior treatment from Dayton Physicians Network and was deeply touched by how her care team treated her. She recalls that “the communication was excellent,” and she never had to wait for her test results because her doctor would pick up the phone and call her immediately. The convenience and the compassion she felt during her treatment even led her to volunteer in Dayton’s treatment room – talking to patients and listening to their stories.
- Read Sandy’s story and learn how you can get involved at COAAdvocacy.org.
- Upload your advocacy story for a chance to be featured in our next newsletter!
- Community Oncology Alliance advocates for support of independent cancer centers
Free Advocacy Educational Resources: Take Advantage!
- DRIVE CHANGE WITH STORIES: Learn how advocates like you are making a difference for their community. Read this Oncology Nurse Manager’s perspective.
- LEARN ONCOLOGY BASICS: Learn how bureaucratic prior authorization policies hurt patients with cancer by delaying or denying care. Watch Community Oncology 101.
- EDUCATE OTHERS: Talk to your state and federal lawmakers about how PBMs put patients at risk. Urge your lawmakers to stop #PBMAbuses at PBMAbuses.org.
For more information about CPAN’s extensive library of educational and advocacy resources for your practice, community, or chapter, please contact Tracey Banks,
Cancer Policy News: Medicare & More!
Scientific American: For Cancer Patients,The Remarkable Benefits Of Community. As cancer therapies become more complex, one of the biggest advances in care might not be a treatment at all.
CNN: Drug prices for seniors once again rose faster than inflation, report says. “The retail price of prescription drugs commonly used by older Americans has continued to increase faster than inflation, according to a new analysis from AARP. This marks the 12th year in a row that there has been a substantial increase in prices.”
Oncology Nursing News: Giving Patients a Voice through Advocacy. “Results from your efforts won’t happen overnight—and they aren’t supposed to, so don’t get discouraged. This doesn’t make your engagement as an advocate any less important.”
CNBC: This is what Medicare Part D has done to prescription costs. “One change prompted by Part D is that branded drug companies have tried to keep their products away from generic producers longer.
Recent News & Updates
A new study from researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) has suggested that diets rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains may possibly be linked to a higher risk of early‑onset lung cancer.
At the 2026 NCCN Annual Conference, Anjali Albanese, an oncology social worker at Fox Chase Cancer Center, sat down for an interview with CURE to discuss the emotional and psychosocial impact of a cancer diagnosis among younger adults.
Breast, colorectal and prostate cancers account for most screen-detectable cancers in adults aged under 50 years, with most “unfortunately diagnosed symptomatically,” a presenter at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting said.
Popular niacin (vitamin B3) derivatives, which are readily available in retail stores and often promoted as anti-aging supplements, may have a protective effect on cancer cells, according to a new study.
