Federal Public Policy Initiatives
Stay up to date on research and information
Sign Up for FORCE Newsletters
February 2024 - U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations guide the use of many health screenings and determine which preventive services are available to patients at no cost under the ACA. FORCE submitted comments in response to the recently published draft USPSTF BRCA screening research plan. Once finalized, the latest studies will be analyzed and the guidelines will be updated accordingly.
Expand Medicare coverage of genetic counseling, testing, cancer screening & prevention
Medicare covers genetic testing only for people already diagnosed with cancer. For individuals with an inherited mutation causing increased cancer risk, many screenings and risk-reducing interventions are not covered. This legislation will modify the Medicare statutes to allow coverage of these potentially life-saving services.
August 30, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) notified FORCE that the recommendations on the Prevention of Lynch Syndrome-Related Cancer cannot "move into the final research plan stage and evidence review at this time.” While not directly stated, it appears that the Task Force is under-resourced and doesn’t currently have the capacity to develop the guidelines.
August 21, 2023 - Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it will keep the billing codes for flap breast reconstruction surgeries. This means every woman will have access to advanced breast reconstruction options like DIEP and GAP flap. The decision was in response to a coordinated effort by multiple stakeholders. Our voices collectively came together, and CMS listened!
FORCE Submits Comments to the USPSTF
June 6, 2023 - The USPSTF recently proposed new breast cancer screening guidelines suggesting that individuals at average risk of breast cancer start mammograms at age 40, but only recommend screening every 2 years. We believe the recommendations will worsen health disparities, lead to confusion, and cost lives.
Read our comments.
January 2023 - Federal employees now have insurance coverage for fertility preservation and access to four plan options that will cover Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). All federal health insurance carriers will provide coverage for standard fertility preservation procedures for those facing the possibility of medically induced (iatrogenic) infertility, including infertility due to cancer treatments or risk-reducing surgery.
News Briefs
10/7/2024 - Urged congressional leadership to swiftly pass the SCREENS for Cancer Act, which would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for another five years,
10/2/2024 - Joined the Alliance for Connected Care and over 150 orgs in a letter to CMS/HHS encouraging the development of a permanent policy related to telehealth practitioners and the reporting of their location at the time of service.
9/25/2024 - Sent a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee strongly opposing efforts to advance S. 2140, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), which would allow patents on abstract ideas, laws of nature, and natural phenomena.
Sponsored By:
