2022 LRF Public Policy Agenda

Advocate

2022 LRF Public Policy Agenda

The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) recognizes that engagement in public policy is critical to achieving its mission, to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease. Toward that end, the Foundation is committed to advocating on behalf of the entire lymphoma community in support of this mission, working collaboratively with policymakers, the medical community, patient advocates and other stakeholders to advance those efforts that will improve the lives of people with lymphoma.

The Foundation and its network of thousands of grassroots advocates across the United States support policy measures which will increase federal funding for lymphoma research and education, to ensure patient access to high quality cancer care. As an extension of these efforts, LRF seeks the integration of the lymphoma community’s perspective throughout the policymaking process and urges that lymphoma patients, survivors and their loved ones be appointed to relevant federal panels, committees and commissions.

Supporting Lymphoma Research

The Lymphoma Research Foundation supports increasing federal investment in lymphoma research and funding for agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so that new lymphoma treatments can become available to patients faster. These efforts include:

  • Increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute, including research intended to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with blood cancer.
  • Greater support for the nation’s clinical trials enterprise and improvements to infrastructure, including efficiencies to the clinical trial development process, with a focus on patient-centered outcomes and health equity.
  • Continued support for the Food and Drug Administration, including the Oncology Center of Excellence, to ensure efficient review of new cancer therapies and integration of the patient voice in drug development and review activities.
  • Increased support for research and regulations that aid in the development of new therapies for rare lymphoma subtypes and underserved patient populations.
  • Increased support for research activity to understand the needs of underserved patient populations, including those with cancer and those who are cancer survivors.

Supporting Access to Quality Cancer Care

The Lymphoma Research Foundation endorses legislation and regulations which seek to increase access to comprehensive lymphoma treatment and cancer survivorship care, including:

  • Public policies that ensure access to adequate and affordable health insurance coverage for people with lymphoma and protect access to quality cancer care, as well as maintaining coverage for pre-existing conditions.
  • Payment and delivery reform efforts that assist health care providers in improving the quality of cancer care in all communities in the United States.
  • A health care system that collects real world data to support access to therapies and quality improvement.
  • Coverage standards in public and private health insurance systems to protect access to all approved anticancer regimens including, but not limited to oral and intravenous drugs, injections, cellular and gene therapy, surgery, radiation and transplantation.
  • Implementation of policies which support the development of new therapies and clinical trials for rare diseases and policies which assist and encourage patient participation.
  • Revision of clinical trial enrollment criteria to encourage more diversity among trial enrollees, accompanied by outreach and education efforts to increase trial enrollment among the elderly, rural residents, and ethnic and racial minorities.

Supporting Survivors

The Lymphoma Research Foundation endorses legislation which recognizes the increased number of cancer survivors in the United States and the needs of people living with and after a lymphoma diagnosis. These efforts include:

  • Legislation which protects access to quality health insurance for anyone with a preexisting condition.
  • Health care payment and delivery reforms that will incentivize delivery of quality survivorship care for patients across the cancer care continuum. Among these reforms are education and provider reimbursement for cancer care planning to improve planning services for all people with lymphoma.
  • Polices that would increase funding for cancer survivorship research and the study of treatment-related side effects.

Become An Advocate

When you register to become an LRF advocate, you will join a network of more than 5,000 Americans who want to make certain the voice of the lymphoma community is heard.