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Old Sun Jul 22, 2007, 02:39 PM
Marrowforums Marrowforums is offline
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Originally Posted by Marrowforums View Post
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reviewed its coverage for growth factors and on May 14 proposed that growth factors no longer be covered for cancer, chronic kidney failure, and other diseases such as MDS.
On June 13, the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF) submitted public comments and strongly objected to this proposed coverage change. The Foundation also met with CMS staff to reiterate the importance of ESAs for people with bone marrow failure diseases and has been seeking support from key members of Congress, including members serving on the Ways and Means Committee, to keep ESA coverage in place.

In response to pressure from the AA&MDSIF, other organizations, and the public, U.S. Representative Richard Neal (D-MA) has agreed to circulate a letter among his colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee urging the CMS to preserve coverage of ESAs for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). You can read of copy of this ESA letter (PDF file, 156K).

The CMS will be finalizing its decision any day now so it is important that members of the Ways and Means committee hear from their constituents about this issue. If you are from the home state of one of the members of the Ways and Means committee shown below, please contact them and urge them to sign on to the letter that is being circulated by Rep. Neal. If you are currently using ESAs, please let them know how the CMS decision would personally impact you and your family.

When you call your member of Congress, please ask to speak to the legislative assistant who handles health care.

Alabama
Artur Davis (202) 225-2665
California
Xavier Becerra (202) 225-6235
Wally Herger (202) 225-3076
Devin Nunes (202) 225-2523
Pete Stark (202) 225-5065
Mike Thompson (202) 225-3311
Connecticut
John Larson (202) 225-2265
Florida
Kendrick Meek (202) 225-4506
Georgia
John Lewis (202) 225-3801
Jon Linder (202) 225-4272
Illinois
Rahm Emanuel (202) 225-4061
Jerry Weller (202) 225-3635
Kentucky
Ron Lewis (202) 225-3501
Louisiana
Jim McCrery (202) 225-2777
Maryland
Chris Van Hollen (202) 225-5341
Michigan
Dave Camp (202) 225-3561
Sander Levin (202) 225-4961
Minnesota
Jim Ramstad (202) 225-2871
Missouri
Kenny Hulshof (202) 225-2956
Nevada
Shelley Berkley (202) 225-5965
Jon Porter (202) 225-3252
New Jersey
Bill Pascrell (202) 225-5751
New York
Joe Crowley (202) 225-3965
Michael McNulty (202) 225-5076
Charles Rangel, Chairman (202) 225-4365
Tom Reynolds (202) 225-5265
North Dakota
Earl Pomeroy (202) 225-2611
Ohio
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (202) 225-7032
Patrick Tiberi (202) 225-5355
Oregon
Earl Blumenauer (202) 225-4811
Pennsylvania
Phil English (202) 225-5406
Allyson Schwartz (202) 225-6111
Tennessee
John Tanner (202) 225-4714
Texas
Kevin Brady (202) 225-4901
Lloyd Doggett (202) 225-4865
Sam Johnson (202) 225-4201
Virginia
Eric Cantor (202) 225-2815
Washington
Jim McDermott (202) 225-3106
Wisconsin
Ron Kind (202) 225-5506
Paul Ryan (202) 225-3031
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