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As someone with metastatic breast cancer, I know that this is a marathon, not a sprint. And, access to treatment is so important. Why should I have to wait up to 2 years for the benefits I already qualify for?” Anne, VA Advocate speaking about the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act

Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Shouldn't Have to Wait! We need your help to get more co-sponsors for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act (H.R. 3183; S. 1312) and get it moving in Congress. This bill would waive the waiting periods for Medicare (up to 24 months) and Social Security Disability benefits (up to 5 months) for those living with metastatic breast cancer. Waiving these waiting periods would allow patients to get the health care they need sooner and help lessen the stress and financial burden they are facing. Too many individuals with this disease die waiting for their benefits - benefits they have already qualified for! Immediate access to SSDI and Medicare benefits is critical. As of today, not one Virginia legislator has signed on to sponsor this bill. See the details below for how you can quickly take action to help get your member of Congress on board.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!! Ask YOUR legislator to co-sponsor the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act: 1) Use NBCC's Action Center to easily send an email to your legislators. Just enter your mailing address and the Action Center tool does the rest! Make it Personal: You can add details to the preset email language - make sure to tell your legislator why this matters to you. 2) Call your legislator's office. The Action Center will also provide your legislator's phone number. Make a quick call to their office to tell them you are a constituent and want them to support this bill. Your message can be this brief: "I am a constituent of Representative X from (your city). I am calling to ask the Representative /Senator to support H.R. 3183 /S.1312, The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act. This bill is important to me as a (breast cancer survivor/patient/advocate) because it ensures that individuals with metastatic breast cancer don’t have to wait to get access to the care they need." Thank you for taking action today! Questions? Kirsta Millar, VBCF Policy Manager, kirsta@vbcf.org.

Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation www.vbcf.org | 1-800-345-8223