What the Stimulus Plan Means for Cancer Survivors

Today President Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus package into law. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included a number of items of interest to the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF):

$10 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for biomedical research (including at least $1.2 billion for cancer research).

$1 billion to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for prevention and wellness programs including cancer screening and education programs.

65% federal subsidy for COBRA health insurance premiums for up to nine months for workers who lose their jobs from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009.

$87 billion to help states restore recent service cuts to Medicaid programs.

$19 billion for a national health information technology system to support electronic medical records in hopes of lowering medical costs and improving quality of care.

The LAF advocated in support of many of these provisions and believes that these investments have the potential to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. The LAF will continue to engage Congress and the new Administration to ensure that these funds are spent in a manner that will have the greatest possible impact.

~by David Lofye (LAF Staff)
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