April 19, 2002

In This Issue: 
Surgery Results, Privacy Proposals, Races Around the Country, Medical Errors, Medical Improvements
What's Hip About HIPPA? and Teleconference on Treating Pain 

***********************************************
THE LATEST NEWS

Senators Decry Weakened Privacy Proposals

Medicare To Cover Guided-Imaging Breast Biopsies

High Volume Hospitals Best For Surgery

Missed Opportunities, Errors Undermine Health Care

***********************************************
WHAT'S THE HYPE ON HIPAA? 
With all the media coverage about medical privacy and HIPAA, one might overlook the other aspects of the federal legislation. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, sets rules about privacy as well as discrimination based on health conditions such as cancer. The federal HIPPA Online website helps answer questions about insurance coverage after employment ends, premium increases, pre-existing conditions, exclusions related to illnesses, and other issues that sometimes arise for cancer patients. For example, Can my health plan tell me that it will no longer cover my illness? Ans: Generally No. However, some group health plans have a lifetime limit of one million dollars for cancer treatments, for example. Health plans can also limit benefits for experimental treatments. One of the important rules about health insurance is that every member of the health plan must have the same benefits and limits. Also, if you exceed the cancer limits for your health plan, the insurance does have to continue paying for any other medical conditions you may have, according to the HIPPA website. Another factor is that state laws affect how the law applies, so HIPAA OnLine also links to each state agency related to HIPAA. 
http://www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/hipaa/online/default.asp

*********************************************** 
LET THE RACES BEGIN!
'Tis the season for being outdoors and raising money for cancer research and services. Funds raised in these massive events support research and clinical services in addition to educating the public, since tens of thousands of people participate. 

TEAM IN TRAINING
Team in Training, sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, is beginning its extensive training for people who want to get in shape. More than 30,000 runners, walkers, cyclists and triathletes will participate in a number of major marathons on behalf of the Society. http://www.teamintraining.org/hm_tnt

JOIN IN THE "WORLD'S LARGEST 5K" WITH CANCERPAGE STAFF

Over 70,000 walkers and runners will quickly tour the monuments on June 1, in Washington, DC during the National Race for the Cure. Register by May 15 directly with "Komen Race For The Cure" by downloading the Registration Form, then mailing the form to Komen with the fee of $25. http://www.nationalraceforthecure.org/

If you want to join the cancerpage team for the national race, use our Team Code of QOC on the Registration Form that you send to Komen. Let us know you registered by sending us an email, then we'll let you know where to meet us near the Washington Monument on the day of the race. Send to Editor@cancerpage.com 

RACE FOR THE CURE 
Find a Race for the Cure in your state or country over the next few months by going to: 
http://www.raceforthecure.com/race/races_by_state.asp

BREAST CANCER 3-DAYS
In 13 states on various dates, Avon sponsors the "Breast Cancer 3 Day" by walking from one major city to another. Since 1993, the hikes resulted in $165 million for research and clinical services related to breast cancer. 
http://www.avoncompany.com/women/avoncrusade/services/index.shtml


***********************************************
CANCER PAIN CONFERENCE BY PHONE 

CareCast - Cancer Pain, a live conference on the internet, will take place on Tuesday, April 23, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM EST. The host, Michael Samuelson and four cancer survivors will discuss their experiences with cancer-related pain. However, the Survivors' Network phone system will have a recording of the event within a few weeks. For more information, go to ACS Cancer Survivors Network. www.acscsn.org or call the Cancer Survivors Network phone system at 1-877-333-HOPE.