Susan G. Komen® Supports Bill for Treatment Affordability

Susan G. Komen®, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, today pledged support for bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients who need expensive specialty drugs.

“Patients dealing with cancer should not be unfairly burdened by higher costs for specialty medications that could put lifesaving treatments out of reach,” said Komen President and CEO Judith A. Salerno, M.D., M.S., in pledging Komen’s support for the Patients’ Access to Treatments Act (PATA).

Reps. David B. McKinley (R-WV) and Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced PATA in the House of Representatives this week. It addresses a trend in the health insurance market of moving expensive drugs into “specialty tiers,” where patient out-of-pocket costs for medication can reach thousands of dollars a month.

This places medically necessary treatments out of reach of average insured Americans and for many patients can lead to failure to adhere to a treatment plan, which in turn can lead to worsening disease, increased rates of disability and rising health care costs, according to the Coalition for Accessible Treatments.

The Coalition was formed to encourage patients and physicians to ask lawmakers to support and co-sponsor PATA. Komen is one of 32 members of the Coalition.

About Susan G. Komen®

Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982, Komen has funded more than $847 million in research and provided $1.8 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on social at ww5.komen.org/social.