What's New In 2011 Health Care Reform?

NOBCCF and its network
 worked very hard during 2009 and 2010 to help Congress enact a quality health care reform bill.  As always, we're grateful to our members who helped make the PPACA a reality!

Here are some changes that will take place effective Jan. 1, 2011:

1. Discount of 50% on brand name prescriptions for Medicare Part D patients in the "donut hole" coverage gap. There's also a 7% discount on generic prescriptions.

2. Changes in flexible spending & health reimbursement accounts - The cost of over-the-counter medications will now be reimbursed if you have this type of insurance plan.

3. Free preventive care for patients enrolled in traditional Medicare plans - this includes flu shots and pneumonia vaccines as well as screenings for diabetes, colorectal cancer, high blood pressure, depression, obesity and HIV.  In addition, women will receive free screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bone mass density.  Men will receive free cholesterol screening.  Nutritional counseling will also be provided for help with diabetes.


4. Your child becomes eligible to stay on your insurance plan until age 26.  They can remain on your plan whether or not they are in school, married, living with you or eligible under an employer plan.  


5. Annual limits on health insurance coverage will increase. The minimum amount of health care costs that your health insurance plan must cover for you will increase to $750,000. Its an importtant benefit when you experience a catastrophic accident or illness. 


6. Bonus of 10% to Medicare physicians who provide primary care - an incentive for doctors to provide primary care to Medicare patients.


More information here and here.

Sen. Sherrod Brown to Speak About Health Care Jan 2

Senator Sherrod Brown will speak at a  Press Conference on the new benefits for Seniors included as provisions in the Affordable Health Care Act.

Senator Sherrod Brown

Sunday, January 2, 2011

3:00 P.M.

MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center

(formerly Deaconness Hospital)

4229 Pearl Road

Cleveland, OH 44109

Any senior who will be directly impacted by the availability of preventative screening should come prepared to tell their story.

Advocate reports from SABCS 2010: Day 1: National Breast Cancer Coalition

The latest news in breast cancer research. Read Laura Nikolaides daily summaries from the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Advocate reports from SABCS 2010: Day 1: National Breast Cancer Coalition

Advocate reports from SABCS 2010: Day 2: National Breast Cancer Coalition

Advocate reports from SABCS 2010: Day 3: National Breast Cancer Coalition

State Pre-Existing Insurance Plans Improving

The Dept. of Health & Human Services announced improvements today in the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan program.  This program, part of the sweeping health care reform law enacted this year, provides states with funds to establish low cost insurance pools for people who can't get affordable insurance due to pre-existing health conditions.  This program provides relief for breast cancer survivors who can't get insurance because of a previous or current diagnosis.

To improve the plan and make it more affordable for consumers, the Obama Administration has directed a 20% cut in these insurance premiums, plus improved plans that lower out of pocket costs.


The latest news can be found at the link below:



http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxCu-nAxso23YZIbMamKWmvjYfbw?docId=cb1a524677ab4db5947926ca10b271d7

More information about this plan is available here:

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/provisions/preexisting/states/oh.html

Hormone replacement therapy increased deaths in WHI study: National Breast Cancer Coalition

New data from the Women's Health Initiative Study on post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy shows HRT not only increases breast cancer incidence in post-menopausal women, it also increases the rate of aggressive forms of breast cancer as well as increased deaths. It's more evidence that women should avoid hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause. Read more at the link below.

Hormone replacement therapy increased deaths in WHI study: National Breast Cancer Coalition

Iniparib Extends Overall Survival In Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Final results of a randomized Phase II trial have been announced for the new parp-inhibitor drug Iniparib.  Results are somewhat encouraging.  The trial enrolled triple-negative breast cancer patients with metastatic disease, assigning them to receive iniparib plus chemotherapy (gemcitabine/carboplatin) or chemotherapy alone.

Triple-negative breast cancer is a type of cancer with tumors that aren't receptive to estrogen and progesterone and test negative for the Her 2 oncogene.  Patients with triple-negative breast cancer usually have a poorer prognosis and shorter survival. About 15% of all breast cancer cases are triple negative.

Of the patients who received  Iniparib + chemo, 55.7% experienced complete or partial response over 6 months compared to 33.9% of patients who received chemo alone. 

The results are encouraging, offering the possibility of a new treatment for metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients.  Treatment options for this group of women is currently limited. 

Read more

Jewels In Our Genes - Study for African American Breast Cancer Survivors

Just received the following email from the Army of Women, part of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Sounds like an important study to understand breast cancer risk in AA women.

As you may know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is the perfect month for the Army of Women members to shine! Some of you may be thinking, "What can I do to help? How can I make a difference?" Well, the Army of Women has the answers for you! To start, read on to learn about an exciting breast cancer research study that needs African-American breast cancer survivors AND their female relatives with a history of breast cancer, from ANYWHERE in the US. If you are a breast cancer survivor, see how you can participate. If you are NOT a breast cancer survivor, but have relatives who are, take action and invite them to join the Army of Women and let them know about this study today! The researchers need them–and possibly you, too! Together you may be able to take part in important research investigating the higher rates of breast cancer in young African-American women. Read on to learn how.

If you aren't able to participate in this study, you can still do YOUR part: forward the Call to Action to someone you know who might be interested. As a member of the Army of Women you have an important opportunity to accelerate breast cancer research by forwarding our e-blast and helping to fill this study. And that's not all! YOU can make a difference by inviting your friends, family, colleagues–ANYONE you know over the age of 18–to join the Army of Women. Together, we can reach our goal of ONE MILLION strong!

Women of African ancestry living in the United States have higher rates of premenopausal breast cancer than women of European ancestry. They are also more likely to die of breast cancer. Is it possible that there are certain hereditary genetic mutations that may explain why? A research team at the University at Buffalo thinks the answer is yes. And they need African-American women who were diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage, including metastatic disease and DCIS, to help them find out.

This study is open to African-American breast cancer survivors in the United States who have at least one living blood relative (mother, sibling, cousin, grandparent, niece, etc) who is also a breast cancer survivor. There is no time limit since diagnosis and it is OK if you are currently receiving treatment. If you are interested in learning more, please read on!

What's the study about?

The research team is searching for new genetic risk factors for breast cancer in African-American women by studying DNA from women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, their female relatives who have had breast cancer, and possibly also their female relatives who have not had breast cancer. They are also going to investigate whether there are similarities in tumor type that develop within the families that take part in the study.

What's involved?

If you agree to participate in the Jewels in Our Genes study you will be contacted by phone to answer questions about your breast cancer diagnosis and your relatives who are also breast cancer survivors. If you appear to be eligible and you decide to join the study, you will be asked to provide a small sample of saliva so that the researchers can collect your DNA. This involves spitting into a tube. The researchers will mail you a saliva collection kit, which will include detailed instructions on how to collect the sample and return it to the researchers. You will mail the kit back to the researchers, at no cost to you.

You will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire about your health, lifestyle, and family history of breast cancer. The questionnaire will be mailed to you and you will mail it back to the researchers, at no cost to you. You will also be asked to give the research team permission to access your medical records, which will be used to confirm the type of breast cancer you had.

Finally, you will be asked to help recruit your relatives who are breast cancer survivors into the study, and also possibly one relative who has not been diagnosed with breast cancer. Based on the information you provide in the questionnaire, the research team will decide which of your relatives you should invite to join the study. You will receive a letter in the mail asking you to provide these family members with a copy of the study brochure and to ask them to call the research team if they would like to participate.

The researchers need to enroll up to 150 families, or approximately 400 women, in this study.

Who is conducting the study?

Heather Ochs-Balcom, PhD, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

Where?

Anywhere in the United States, all necessary participation is handled through the mail.

Who can participate?

You can join the Jewels in Our Genes study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

• You are a woman older than 18 years of age

• You consider yourself to be Black/African American

• You were diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage, including metastatic disease and DCIS. There is no time limit since diagnosis and it is OK if you are currently receiving treatment.

• You have tested negative for the BRCA 1 and 2 mutations (if known - if you do not know your status, you can still participate in the study)

• You have at least one living female blood relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer of any stage, including metastatic disease and DCIS. The relative can be first degree (mother, daughter, sister) or second degree (cousin, grandparent, aunt, or niece). There is no time limit since diagnosis and it is OK if she is currently receiving treatment.

• You live in the United States

After you RSVP, the researcher will ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a right fit for you.

Link to RSVP