Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the project through 2006, subject to any appropriate modifications.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 261) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the project, at least through 2006, subject to any appropriate modifications, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 261, a resolution sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall). This resolution commends the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for implementing the Medicare oncology demonstration project, and requests that it extend this successful program. I am pleased to report that due to this important demonstration project, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has received valuable data that will serve to better treat patients suffering from cancer.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death to Americans, and almost every American has had their life touched in some way by this horrible disease. Simply put, cancer kills. Cancer does not discriminate. It takes many forms and effects young and old alike.

I commend the CMS for their leadership in addressing this effective treatment for cancer patients. Specifically, I commend CMS for approaching cancer care from a totally different perspective. Providing quality cancer care is not just about administering drugs to patients, albeit performing this task safely and efficiently is important. Providing cancer care includes managing pain, minimizing nausea, and limiting fatigue. It means arming clinicians with information and evidence-based practice guidelines to obtain the best possible clinical outcomes.

That is what the chemotherapy demonstration has begun to provide towards the advancement of cancer care in this country. The demonstration initiated last fall by CMS reflects our commitment to quality and the use of clinical data to pave the way for enhanced quality care, including good clinical outcomes and reduced cost to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

These are principles which I stand behind, and I commend CMS for their work to ensure that cancer patients receive the best possible care. This resolution was approved by voice vote by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and I encourage my colleagues in the House to do the same this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), the author of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Thomas, requested that the attached exchange of letters be submitted during the floor debate on H. Res. 261.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, Oct. 17, 2005.

The Hon. Bill Thomas,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thomas: Thank you for your letter in regards

to H. Res. 261, a resolution ``[e]xpressing the sense of the

House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare and

Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the

Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care

of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend

the project, at least through 2006, subject to any

appropriate modifications.''

As the Committee on Ways and Means was named as an

additional Committee of jurisdiction upon the resolution's

introduction, I acknowledge and appreciate your willingness

to not exercise your full referral on the resolution. In

doing so, I agree that your decision to forgo further action

on the resolution will not prejudice the Committee on Ways

and Means with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on

this legislation or similar legislation.

I look forward to working with you on this resolution.

Sincerely,

Joe Barton,

Chairman.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, Oct. 11, 2005.

The Hon. Joe Barton,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Barton: I am writing concerning H. Res. 261,

a resolution ``[e]xpressing the sense of the House of

Representatives that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare

demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer

patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the

project, at least through 2006, subject to any appropriate

modifications,'' which was ordered reported by the Committee

on Energy and Commerce on Wednesday, July 20, 2005.

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means has

jurisdiction over matters concerning Medicare. This

resolution calls for the extension of the Medicare

demonstration project to assess the quality of care for

patients undergoing chemotherapy, and thus falls within the

jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. However, in

order to expedite this legislation for floor consideration,

the Committee will forgo action on this resolution. This is

being done with the understanding that it does not in any way

prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of

conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or

similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H. Res. 261, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration.

Best regards,

Bill Thomas,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by my friend and fellow Texan, Mr. Hall.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this resolution, which would encourage CMS to extend a Medicare demonstration project that has maintained cancer patients' access to chemotherapy.

Approximately 9.6 million men, women, and children in the United States are currently living with a diagnosis of cancer.

Despite the tremendous strides made in cancer research and cancer care, the disease unfortunately still ranks as the number two killer in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.3 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year alone.

These individuals face a tough road ahead and difficult decisions about the path they will take in fighting this disease.

This year, the Medicare program implemented a demonstration project to look at chemotherapy patients and the quality of care they receive.

A good deal of cancer patients receive life-saving chemotherapy in physicians' offices.

However, the Medicare bill Congress passed in 2003 reduced payments to physicians who administer chemotherapy in their offices.

This demonstration project has temporarily alleviated some of the financial strains oncologists were to receive under the Medicare bill--

And the result is continued patient access to chemotherapy administered in the familiar and more-convenient office setting.

Ultimately, the goal of the demonstration is to improve cancer treatment through a better understanding of the patient experience under chemotherapy.

But we don't want to cut off patients' access to chemotherapy before we determine how their cancer care could be improved.

While chemotherapy has literally been a life-saver for countless cancer patients, it is not an easy process to endure.

Patients often experience pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue while undergoing chemotherapy.

We know a great deal about chemotherapy and its effect on patients, but our knowledge base is not complete.

Unfortunately, the cancer care demonstration project is scheduled to end on December 31, 2005.

This resolution would encourage the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to extend the cancer care demonstration project at least through next year.

By extending this project, CMS would continue to support chemotherapy services offered in physician offices.

At the same time, CMS would continue to build on the information already gleaned from the project to improve the quality of care for Americans suffering from cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Hall for his leadership on this issue and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 261. This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the project, at least through 2006, subject to any appropriate modifications. Further, it commends CMS for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and calls on CMS to extend the project, subject to any appropriate modifications, at least through 2006.

In brief, this resolution is important because it:

Encourages CMS to extend the oncology demonstration project, which helped preserve patient access to cancer therapies in 2005 by maintaining critical resources in the cancer care delivery system.

The demonstration, currently set to expire at the end of 2005, asks about quality of care information such as pain, nausea/vomiting and fatigue. This was an important step in measuring outcomes for quality cancer care.

The demonstration helped focus limited resources on symptom management and treatment, an aspect of cancer treatment most difficult for patients. The Resolution encourages CMS to make refinements, as appropriate, to make the data collection even more meaningful for patient care.

As you know, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) significantly reformed the way Medicare pays for chemotherapy administered in doctors' offices. These reforms resulted in considerable reductions in Medicare payments to cancer care.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) following efforts by many Members of Congress, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), patient advocacy groups, and others in the cancer community, implemented a one-year demonstration project that provided resources to assess the patient experience with chemotherapy side effects. These include pain, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue. This demonstration project has achieved three important objectives: (1) collecting data to improve the quality of cancer care, (2) maintaining stability in the cancer care delivery system, and (3) focusing limited resources in an aspect of cancer treatment most difficult for patients.

The demonstration project was critically important to protecting quality cancer care in 2005. I encourage Members to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 261, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the project, at least through next year.

In 2005, CMS implemented a Quality of Life demonstration project to assess quality care for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy services in an office-based practice. The demonstration project was designed to gather data on the effects of chemotherapy on Medicare patients. Practitioners participating in the project must provide data and document services related to pain control management, minimization of nausea and vomiting, and the reduction of fatigue. This program is now underway and I strongly support its continuation.

I would note, however, as the program is currently designed, it only applies to patients receiving IV infusion and push chemotherapy, not to patients receiving oral chemotherapy. As was originally intended when Congress created this demonstration program, it is critical that all patients, regardless of the method of chemotherapy treatment, are included in the assessment of these key quality of life factors impacting their treatment for cancer. As it stands today, the data collected under the QOL is incomplete--patients receiving oral therapies are not assessed in the same way, and their side effects cannot be compared to the side effects of infused chemotherapy. As I stated, I strongly support the continuation of this demonstration program but I believe CMS should act to ensure that data is collected from patients receiving oral drugs as well as injectable drugs.

Oral chemotherapy treatment can improve the quality of life for cancer patients by allowing patients to have chemotherapy at home or work without daily visits to the doctor's office or to a cancer infusion center. These treatments can also be cost effective as they require fewer physician visits and fewer invasive procedures. While these treatments are relatively new, more are being developed each year and they can provide unprecedented freedom for Americans battling cancer. If we are going to collect data and learn how to improve the quality of life for those fighting cancer it is my belief that we should focus on collecting data on all treatment options--including the very promising use of oral drugs.