USPSTF: Include Cancer Survivors in the Guidelines on Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer

USPSTF: Include Cancer Survivors in the Guidelines on Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer

Started
December 9, 2013
Petition to
Chair, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Virginia Moyer MD, MPH
Petition Closed
This petition had 3,254 supporters

Why this petition matters

Started by FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

Despite hearing from over 3000 survivors, previvors, organizations, researchers, and clinicians, the USPSTF just released their brand new guidelines on genetic counseling/testing for BRCA-related cancers. These guidelines still have many gaps and importantly exclude cancer survivors in the "B" letter grade! 

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf12/brcatest/brcatestfinalrs.htm 

Please sign our petition to protesting this injustice. 

The new US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Guidelines on Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling and Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer discriminate against cancer survivors.  The USPSTF has implied that once a person is diagnosed with cancer, all additional health interventions are considered treatment of the disease. By dismissing the preventive value of BRCA counseling and testing in this population, they also dismiss the value of preventive services in cancer survivors in general, many of whom will go on to live long healthy lives if they are given access to appropriate preventive services.  

 As of January 2014—due to provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)—U.S. citizens with a pre-existing condition can no longer be denied or dropped from their health insurance plans. It is ironic that at a time when PPACA is being implemented to eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions by insurance companies, the USPSTF is, in effect, giving back a pre-existing condition status to cancer survivors with their exclusion of genetic testing in cancer survivors, and therefore adding barriers to cancer survivors’ access to preventive care. More information about this important issue can be found at:
http://www.facingourrisk.org/advocacy/current_action/USPSTF_draft_guidelines_hboc.php.

Please join FORCE and others who care about ensuring that the high-risk breast and ovarian cancer community has access to critical screening and preventive services by adding your name to this petition and letter to the USPSTF: 
http://www.facingourrisk.org/advocacy/current_action/documents/final_response_USPSTF_sign_on_010.pdf

Petition Closed

This petition had 3,254 supporters

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Decision Makers

  • Virginia Moyer MD, MPHChair, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force