Should the Feds Reauthorize & Expand Research on Childhood Cancer? (S. 292)

What is S. 292?

(Updated January 7, 2019)

This bill was enacted on June 5, 2018

This bill — known as the Childhood Cancer STAR Act — would expand opportunities for childhood cancer research, improve efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences, and enhance quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. It would reauthorize the national cancer registry through fiscal year 2023 and allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award grants to state cancer registries to improve tracking of childhood cancers. Research funding would total $30 million annually through fiscal year 2023.

The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) would be authorized to:

• Support pilot programs to develop or study modals for monitoring and caring for childhood cancer survivors throughout their lives;

• Establish a task force to develop and test standards for high-quality childhood cancer survivorship care;

• Carry out a demonstration project to improve care coordination as childhood cancer survivors transition to adult care.

The National Institutes of Health would be authorized to support research on:

• Outcomes for, and barriers faced by, pediatric cancer survivors within minority or medically underserved populations;

• Follow-up care for pediatric cancer survivors, including research on the late effects of cancer treatment and long-term complications.

HHS would be required to convene a Workforce Development Collaborative on Medical and Psychosocial Care for Pediatric Cancer Survivors. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to make recommendations to address barriers to childhood cancer survivors obtaining and paying for adequate medical care.

The bill’s full title is the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Act of 2017.

Argument in favor

This commonsense, bipartisan bill would authorize research that will lead to better child-focused cancer treatments, improve tracking of childhood cancer incidences, and provide additional resources for survivors of, and those impacted by, childhood cancer.

Argument opposed

This bill shouldn’t expand the authority of federal agencies to conduct research aimed at improving treatments of childhood cancer, track incidences of childhood cancer, or provide resources to survivors.

Impact

People diagnosed with children and those close to them; federal agencies, particularly NIH, the CDC, and HHS.

Cost of S. 292

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost $128 million over the 2019-2023 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced this bill to advance pediatric cancer research, improve surveillance of childhood cancer, and provide resources for survivors and those impacted by childhood cancer:

“With far too many children’s lives tragically cut short by cancer, it’s critical that we do all we can to help the brave young people who are fighting these battles. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act will bring needed assistance to children with cancer and their families by expanding opportunities for research on childhood cancer and providing new strategies to help survivors overcome late health effects, such as secondary cancers. It is my hope that these efforts will lead to life-saving treatments for children and bring us closer to the ultimate goal of ending pediatric cancer one and for all.”

Original cosponsor Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) added:

“We must continue making these advancements that can help save the lives of those battling childhood cancers. The Childhood Cancer STAR Act will contribute to new developments in research and treatment, and has the potential to positively impact tens of thousands of lives. I’m proud to reintroduce this very important legislation for patients and families in West Virginia and across the country.”

This legislation passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on a voice vote before passing the Senate as a whole unanimously. It has the support of 55 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, including 32 Democrats, 21 Republicans, and two Independents.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate