“As the weather heats up and the legislative season slows down for the summer, we are looking back on all that has happened in the first six months of 2021.
Thanks to the tireless advocacy of supporters like you, we have so many legislative victories to celebrate.
See: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and all it can do to support you or a loved one.
On the federal level, advocates have already sent over 25,000 messages to lawmakers, on issues ranging from Medicare Part D reform to pediatrics research funding to consumer assistance programs.
LLS advocates played a vital role in influencing the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March. That stimulus alone helped blood cancer patients and survivors by:
- Making quality health coverage affordable by eliminating COBRA premiums for six months and reducing or fully eliminating premiums for marketplace plans
- Protecting and promoting access to Medicaid, a critical lifeline for millions of patients
- Reducing unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 at work through extended unemployment and paid sick leave
- Improving health outcomes for patients in low-income households through food, housing and utility assistance
LLS and our advocates have also been fighting at the state level for blood cancer patients and have had some impressive wins so far this year:
- In Illinois, state lawmakers passed a bill that will enable patients to choose health plans through HealthCare.gov with affordable, predictable out-of-pocket costs for their medications.
- In Kansas, Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill that could have encouraged people to stay on short-term health plans that can expose patients to serious financial jeopardy if they get sick.
- In Texas, state lawmakers signed into law a bill that will improve bone marrow donor recruitment statewide, saving lives in Texas and across the nation.
While there is still more work to be done to protect blood cancer patients and survivors, we are so grateful for the progress that has been made in the past six months.”
We All Deserve Better 