CLL Drug Legislation

This is from Chaya Venkat of CLL Topics:

We have written before on the potential value of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) drugs such as Bexxar and Zevalin to CLL patients. In fact, we are monitoring with interest an important trial at the Hutchinson Cancer Center (Seattle) using Bexxar for MRD clearance in CLL patients. Here are links to our previous articles, for your quick reference:

Radioimmunotherapy is Underappreciated
Reimbursement cuts may sink RIT
Bexxar trial for CLL

With recent rulings by Medicare, we are in imminent danger of losing access to both of these drugs. Our sister organization www.lymphomation.org and its founder Karl Schwartz have been very active in trying to mobilize patient support for these two important drugs, and today is the day to make a couple of phone calls to your government representatives on this subject. I strongly urge you to support this initiative, and add your voice to the other patients trying to keep these therapy options for all of us. Please call Senator Max Baucus, as well as the senator from your state. The contact information is given below for your convenience. What should you say to these senators? Something along these lines, with as much gusto as you can muster:

“I am a cancer patient/caregiver and I'm calling about the CMS RULING that will cut reimbursement and therefore DENY ACCESS to potentially life saving radioimmunotherapy drugs Bexxar and Zevalin ... Please do what you can to fix this ruling before the end of the year. ....”

Senator Max Baucus (Montana) *
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2651
(202) 224-0515 (Fax)
webmail: http://baucus.senate.gov/contact/emailForm.cfm?subj=issue

Majority Members

John D. "Jay"Rockerfeller IV (D-WV)
Jocelyn Moore: 202-224-6472

Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Lindsey Henjum: 202-224-2043

Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Frederick Isasi: 202-224-5521

John F. Kerry (D-MA)
Chris Dawe: 202-224-2742

Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)
Ashley Ridlon: 202-224-4843

Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Nicole Tapay: 202-224-5244

Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Meghan Taira: 202-224-6542

Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Oliver Kim: 202-224-4822

Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Dale Chung: 202-224-3441

Ken Salazar (D-CO)
Piper Su: 202-224-5852

Minority Members

Orrin Hatch ( R-UT)
Pattie L. DeLoatche : 202-224-6306

Trent Lott (R-MS)
Emily Chandler: 202-224-6253

Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)
Bill Pewen: 202-224-5344

Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Jennifer romans: 202-224-4521

Gordon H. Smith (R-OR)
Lindsay Morris: 202-228-5862

Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Holly Santry: 202-224-4343

Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Katie Oppenheim: 202-224-6142

Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jennifer Swenson: 202-224-4774

John Ensign (R-NV)
Andrew Shaw: 202-224-6244