COA Patient Advocacy Network
News Bulletin: October 2022
Community Oncology Advocacy Summit 2022
Educating Cancer Advocates

The Community Oncology Advocacy Summit 2022 brought together patient and professional advocates, oncologists, and policy experts to explore the biggest issues facing community oncology and equip advocates with the tools to effect meaningful change in cancer care. Experts shared the latest on disparities and social determinants of health, federal cancer care policy, state-level cancer care reform, and more. Recordings are now available for those who registered.
Advocacy Chats
Educational Conversations on Policy Issues & Cancer Research

How 340B in Big Health Systems is Hurting Patients
The 340B Drug Pricing Program is meant to provide access to prescription drugs at significantly discounted prices to patients in need—but the program’s current structure allows hospitals to keep cost savings instead of passing them on to patients who need them most. Join COA’s Director of Patient Advocacy & Education Rose Gerber, Executive Director Ted Okon, and Managing Director Nicolas Ferreyros on October 12, 2022, at 12 p.m. ET, to discuss the history of the 340B Program, how it got to its current state, the latest data on use of the program, and how it can be fixed so its results match its intentions.
Understanding Advocacy in a Community Oncology Setting
Media Relations: Speaking with Media
Being interviewed by a reporter may sound like a daunting task, but it is an opportunity for advocates to share their messages and key points. It is crucial to prepare for an interview—while interview questions may be shared in advance, it is best to assume they will not. 

Start by researching the reporter and identifying key points to include in the conversation. Identifying these points allows advocates to create a bridge from a question asked to an answer that incorporates key messages. If asked a question that is too complicated to accurately answer—involving specific health care policies that could impact community oncology, for example—it is best to be honest and offer to follow up with additional information when available.
HealthDay 10/04
Breast cancer researchers and clinicians have made tremendous progress in reducing death rates in the past three decades, yet a racial gap persists in the United States, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. Even with the lower numbers of actual disease compared to white patients, Black women are still much more likely to die from the disease.

HealthLeaders 09/20
The original purpose of the 340B Drug Pricing Program was to help ensure patients with cancer could afford the life-saving drugs they’d need, however, a lack of regulation and oversight has gotten in the way of the original mission, and new research from the Community Oncology Alliance found that safety net hospitals have hiked the cost of cancer drugs almost five times their 340B purchase price.

Kaiser Health News 09/16
As abortion bans go into effect across a contiguous swath of the South, cancer physicians are wrestling with how new state laws will influence their discussions with pregnant patients about what treatment options they can offer. Although new abortion restrictions often allow exceptions based on “medical emergency,” or a “life-threatening physical condition,” cancer physicians fear misinterpreting the laws and being left in the lurch.
Community Oncology 101
People Helping People: Scott Hamilton on the Cancer Care Team
Community oncology clinics are focused on compassion and integrity when treating their patients—the standard of care that all communities deserve. Scott Hamilton, four-time Olympic gold medalist, explains the importance—and value—of the cancer care team on @OncologyCOA’s YouTube channel.


Resources for Chapters
Thousands of people receive local, convenient, and high-quality cancer care in community oncology clinics around the United States, and each patient’s story is unique. CPAN advocates and patients shared their experiences being treated in a community oncology setting, highlighting the value of locally delivered cancer care.