|
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Tony DeLuca |
|
DeLuca: Republican budget cuts target cancer patients
HARRISBURG, June 22 – State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D- Allegheny, said that House Republicans have proposed to cut close to 55 percent of funding at four regional cancer institutes across Pennsylvania even though the institutes provide care to over 42,000 new patients a year.
DeLuca said the institutes also conduct research, cancer prevention and educational outreach programs.
"Most of us have been touched by a family member or friend having cancer and state budget cuts would rob many patients of new treatment opportunities to flight cancer," DeLuca said.
In addition, DeLuca said for two prior legislative sessions, the Republican-controlled state Senate failed to consider a cancer clinical trial bill, which DeLuca prime sponsored, after the House passed the legislation.
"I find it disturbing that Republicans want to cut business taxes and not try to save people's lives," DeLuca said.
DeLuca's legislation would have required insurance companies to cover the cost of routine care for patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials in Pennsylvania.
Clinical trials are research studies to test new drugs or other treatments and compare them to current, standard treatments to determine how they may help patients.
"Great strides in cancer treatment have been made over the past several years, so why not continue treatment that may help save more patients' lives?" DeLuca said.
DeLuca is chairman of the House Insurance Committee.
###