Advancing access to clinical trialsLUNGevity advocates for access to clinical trials so that all patients who are eligible can participate. We have several exciting updates on our work to streamline clinical trials and make them more patient-centric as well as on our work to raise awareness about participation in clinical trials among the patient populations. Inhale for Life: Clinical TrialsThe importance of clinical trials and their potential role in the clinical care of patients is the subject of LUNGevity’s newest installation in the Inhale for Life PSA campaign, launched in time for Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The videos feature people who are living well with lung cancer thanks to the medical advances available through clinical trials. Their participation is critical to the approval of new treatments, helping to prove the safety and efficacy of new drugs for future patients. Watch the videos for yourself and share with family and friends to help spread awareness. Scientific and Clinical RoundtableThis fall, LUNGevity hosted its fifth Scientific and Clinical Roundtable in the US and its second in Europe. Both Roundtables convened multi-stakeholder participants, including regulators, industry leaders, clinicians, and patients, and focused on defining and then achieving ideal patient-centric, efficient, clinical trials and therapy development paradigms for lung cancer. In addition to ongoing activities, the Foundation introduced new workstreams to address important issues such as developing patient-centric endpoints for adjuvant clinical trials and ensuring seamless biomarker testing for patients to get matched into precision medicine clinical trials. Working to ensure timely access to biomarker testing resultsFor the past several years, LUNGevity has been working with key stakeholders to change policies and regulations around testing, specifically, to eliminate the Date of Service Rule (known as the 14-Day Rule), which determined who (hospital or laboratory) can bill Medicare for testing, and consequently created delays in testing for patients. In 2017, LUNGevity helped to lead a group of stakeholders to reform this rule because it slowed patients’ access to precision medicine. This summer, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had proposed changes to the 14-Day Rule that would once again create delays in testing for lung cancer patients. Thanks to our community, who stepped up to share their stories and experiences, LUNGevity was able to draft comments that were submitted to CMS encouraging them not to move forward with these proposed changes. CMS reviewed this feedback and announced this month that they will not pursue many of the proposed changes that would have created delays in testing for lung cancer patients. Many of the changes that were implemented in 2018 will remain, thanks in large part to stakeholder engagement and comments from LUNGevity. For those who are interested in the details, you can read the final rule. Updates to the Date of Service / 14-Day Rule begin on page 938. While this was a win for LUNGevity and the broader patient community, we realize that the rule is not perfect, and that some patients may still be experiencing delays in testing. We will continue to work with other stakeholders to identify the policy levers that we can use to improve access to timely testing for patients. #GivingTuesday First, there was Black Friday. Then came Cyber Monday. And now, #GivingTuesday! Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 3, when LUNGevity Foundation joins this global day of giving that kicks off the charitable season. #GivingTuesday celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy during the season when many of our generous donors focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Visit www.LUNGevity.org on Tuesday, December 3, Celebration of Hope GalaThank you to all who joined us at the 7th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala in New York City on Wednesday, November 6. Thanks to your support, this was one of our most successful galas to date. We look forward to even more progress for people living with lung cancer to celebrate at next year’s event. Lunch & Learns in full swingLUNGevity's Lunch & Learns are informative, interactive community meetings held in partnership with major medical centers and other community partner sites across the country. These sessions provide the opportunity for attendees to hear from lung cancer experts and learn about support programs and resources in an informal setting. Check out the schedule and register now for a Lunch & Learn near you! Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!Please help to support the work you read about in this newsletter, and so much more. |