VBCF is joining the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) to make a major push this summer to get the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act passed by Congress this year. We need your help to deliver a strong and persistent message that this bill needs to move NOW!

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act, HR 2048, would remove the onerous waiting periods (5 months for Social Security Disability and an additional 2 years for Medicare coverage) for metastatic breast cancer patients who qualify for these benefits. Waiving these waiting periods would allow patients to access needed health care sooner and lessen their financial burden.

The bill has the support of 246 bipartisan members of Congress - including every one of Virginia's U.S. Representatives and two-thirds of the members of the House Ways & Means Committee, where it sits awaiting action. We need this bill to be considered by the Committee ASAP - or "marked up" in policy-speak.

NBCC President Fran Visco sent this letter to the Ways & Means Committee Chair and Ranking Member emphasizing the urgent need to act on the bill in committee. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO AMPLIFY THIS MESSAGE!



TAKE ACTION

Action #1: Call Virginia Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8th)

Phone: (202) 225-4376

Virginia Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8th) is on the Ways and Means Committee. He needs to hear from all of us!

Please call his office and ask him to do everything he can to get the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act marked up in committee this summer. Tell him this bill is a top priority to you and the people living with metastatic disease in Virginia. His office will keep track of the calls coming in about this bill. Call his office often! We want him to hear us loud and clear!

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

"I'm calling to urge Congressman Beyer to do everything in his power to have the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act - HR 2048 - marked up in the Ways & Means Committee NOW. Two-thirds of the committee members cosponsor this bill, and it has wide bipartisan support. Women dying of breast cancer cannot afford to wait for care!"

Note:

• If you live in Congressman Beyer's district (VA-8th), it is even more important that you call! Be sure to mention that you are a constituent and the city/town where you live.
• Constituents can also send an email using this contact form on Representative Beyer's website: https://beyer.house.gov/contact/

Action #2: Call the Chair and Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee

Even though these Representatives are not Virginia legislators, you can still call their offices to urge them to act on the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act in Committee. You can use the same message as above. Like Congressman Beyer, their offices will keep track of the calls coming in about HR 2048. Let's make sure they hear from us!

Ways and Means Committee Chair, Representative Jason Smith (R-MO):

Phone: (202) 225 3625 

Ranking Member, Representative Richard Neal (D-MA):

Phone: 202 225 5601   

Please let me know if you get responses or feedback  

Thank you for all you do!  Let's keep up the fight! 

Questions: Contact Kirsta Millar

kirsta@vbcf.org or 804-285-1200 ext. 203.