2024 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. The Foundation is committed to advocating on behalf of the entire lymphoma community in support of this mission, working collaboratively with policymakers, regulators, the medical community, patient advocates and other stakeholders to advance efforts that will improve the lives of people with lymphoma.

The Foundation supports policy measures which will increase federal funding for lymphoma research and ensure patient access to high quality cancer care and improved anti-cancer treatments. 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 drug development. These efforts include:

• Increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute, including research intended to better understand every subtype of the disease, as well as support for the nation’s clinical trials enterprise with a focus on patient-centered outcomes and health equity.
• Increased funding for the Food and Drug Administration, 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 policies which seek to increase access to comprehensive lymphoma treatment and cancer survivorship care, including:

• Legislation that ensures access to adequate and affordable health insurance coverage for people with lymphoma.
• 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.
• 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.
• Policies intended to address the consistent drug shortages in the United States which threaten access to life-saving lymphoma treatments.

Supporting Lymphoma Survivors

The Lymphoma Research Foundation endorses policies 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 prioritizes the study of cancer survivorship and the needs of cancer survivors.
• 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, inclusive of education and provider reimbursement for cancer care planning.