House Bills - 110th Congress

H. R. 5585 —The Improving Cancer Treatment Education and Cancer Symptom Management Act of 2008

On March 11, 2008, Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced H.R. 5585, the Improving Cancer Treatment Education and Cancer Symptom Management Act of 2008. The bill would amend the Social Security Act to provide treatment and education services to Medicare recipients who have cancer. It would also amend the PHS Act to require the Director of NIH to establish a nurse intervention research grant program to study cancer symptom management care and services delivered by registered nurses. The bill would also require the Director of NIH, through the Director of NCI, to expand, intensify, and coordinate programs: (1) for the conduct and support of research to improve the treatment and management of symptoms and side effects associated with cancer and cancer treatment, and (2) to evaluate the role of nursing interventions in the amelioration of such symptoms and side effects. H.R. 5585 was jointly referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.