As of January 6, Republicans hold the majority in both houses of the 114th Congress. They hold 54 seats in the U.S. Senate and 245 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
At the state level, Republicans now hold an increased majority of governorships and legislatures that will consider numerous health-care issues during 2015, including Medicaid expansion, regulation and taxation of e-cigarettes, and “Right to Try” legislation.
ASCO staff has begun meeting with members of the new Congress. The ASCO Government Relations Committee met with lawmakers in Washington, DC, in mid-February. Reforming Medicare Physician Payment, the 21st Century Cures Initiative, and National Institutes of Health funding are among the cancer-related issues that ASCO will continue to discuss with Congress members.
ASCO will seek opportunities to work with State Affiliates and stakeholders in the physician and patient advocacy communities to advance its Medicaid reform recommendations and oral parity at the state level. Additionally, ASCO will continue to support State Affiliates that are addressing issues related to chemotherapy safety standards being developed in their states. ■
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