Spring Advocacy Round-Up:

Breast Cancer Advocates on Capitol Hill, Help for Medical Debt and More

The 2024 NBCC Advocate Leadership Summit and Lobby Day

Three days of breast cancer research seminars and advocacy training, followed by 11 Congressional office visits, 2 Senate office visits, 16,848 steps, and 6.5 miles on Capitol Hill! This is what our fantastic group of Virginia breast cancer advocates, VBCF staff, and Board accomplished in Washington, DC during the 2024 National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) Advocate Leadership Summit and Lobby Day, May 4-7. VBCF awarded Noss Scholarships to 5 volunteer breast cancer survivors and metastatic breast cancer thrivers to attend this year’s event.

“The first three days were a whirlwind of information, and I was a sponge taking in all of the technical and tactical aspects of this advocacy work. At Lobby Day, it was powerful to put those thoughts into action. It was an incredible experience to hear the stories of other survivors and thrivers, and to memorialize those who have been lost. Leaving the Summit/Lobby Day, I am energized to get more involved with VBCF and maybe, eventually, in reviewing proposals for the DoD Breast Cancer Research program.” Noss Scholarship Recipient, Jeniffer Cox, Toano, VA

Check our full re-cap and more pictures HERE!

Help for Virginians Facing Medical Debt Signed Into Law

New research out this month from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) found that almost half of cancer patients and survivors surveyed (47%) have had medical debt related to their cancer. Two-thirds report struggling with debt for more than a year and a third had dealt with it for more than three years. Nearly all (98%) were insured at the time their debt began accumulating. These results are disheartening, but not surprising.

VBCF was glad to work with partners such as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and ACS CAN during the 2024 General Assembly to help pass two bills that offer some help to Virginians facing medical debt. Both bills were signed into law by Governor Youngkin last month:

• HB1370 - Prohibits medical debt from being reported to consumer reporting agencies. Medical bills can weigh down credit scores which are looked at for a range of things like renting an apartment, getting a mortgage or auto loan, or buying a cellphone. While the bill would not erase the debt someone owes, it prevents that debt from appearing on their credit score. “By ensuring that medical debt cannot be reported to consumer reporting agencies, Virginians will be able to deal with medical situations without worrying that the debt they incur will unfairly and negatively impact every other aspect of their life,” Delegate Karrie Delaney, the bill sponsor.

• HB34 - Prevents medical debt collection if the process has not begun within three years of the due date noted on the final invoice for a health care service. This helps prevent patients from having medical debt linger for many years. 

Looking for Links to Legislators

VBCF's top legislative priority in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly Session was HB230 a bill that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for follow-up breast imaging like diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, and MRIs. Research from the recent ACS CAN survey mentioned above confirms what we already know - that imaging and diagnostic tests are some of the most significant sources of unpaid medical bills or other debt related to cancer care: 50% of respondents reported that imaging was a significant source of their debt and 48% said diagnostic tests.

As you may remember, HB230 was sent to the Health Insurance Reform Commission (HIRC) for review. We hope that a quick review by HIRC later this year will allow the bill to be brought back to the 2025 General Assembly to get a vote for passage. New HIRC members were recently appointed and VBCF will work to educate them about the importance of this bill. We'd like your help.

Are any of the members listed below your legislators? Would you be interested in joining VBCF in meeting with them to discuss the bill? Or would you be willing to share your experience with paying for diagnostic testing? If so, please contact Kirsta at kirsta@vbcf.org. Thank you! (To find your legislator: Who's My Legislator?)

House HIRC Members:

Delegate Richard C. (Rip) Sullivan Jr. (6th)

Delegate Dan Helmer (10th)

Delegate Michelle Lopes Maldonado (20th)

Delegate Joseph P. McNamara (40th)

Senate HIRC Members:

Senator Scott Surovell (34th)

Senator Creigh Deeds (11th)

Senator Bill DeSteph (20th)

Senator Jeremy McPike(29th)

Senator Lamont Bagby(14th)

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