Cranbury, NJ (Aug. 3, 2021)—The AONN+ Policy and Advocacy Committee has united with more than 2 dozen patient groups and healthcare partners that are joining forces to call for a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program, including caregiving leave. The groups, which include the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Association of Community Cancer Centers, Community Oncology Alliance, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Patient Advocate Foundation, and others, want Congress to include a national paid leave program in the proposed upcoming human infrastructure package.
The groups are advocating for a set of principles that any such national paid family and medical leave program must meet in order to best serve patients, including:
- A federal paid leave program must provide medical, parental, and caregiving leave;
- A paid leave program must have a broadly inclusive definition of family for caregiving purposes;
- Leave should include meaningful compensation/wage replacement in an amount that allows employees, including lower-income workers, to reasonably afford to take needed leave; and
- A paid leave program must be available to all workers, regardless of employer size, including part-time, contingent, and self-employed workers.
“If you or a loved one is dealing with a serious health condition, like cancer, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, or mental health issues, having access to paid time off is absolutely critical,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “These conditions can be incredibly intense, time- consuming, and costly. Being able to take time off to receive and complete necessary treatment, or to care for a loved one undergoing treatment, without sacrificing one’s career or overall economic well-being makes a big difference in patients’ lives.”
Roughly 13 percent of workers in the United States have access to employer-paid family leave and fewer than 40 percent have access to short-term disability insurance through their jobs that allows them to receive partial pay while they recover from their own serious health issue. Nearly 60 percent of workers qualify for job-protected, unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
The groups sent their principles to congressional leadership and the administration and plan to urge lawmakers to support paid leave for people with medical conditions and their caregivers in the coming months.
Read the principles document for more detail.
Patient groups and partners calling for a paid family and medical leave policy: Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+), The AIDS Institute, Alliance for Aging Research, ALS Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Cancer Support Community, Cervivor, Inc., COA Patient Advocacy Network, Community Oncology Alliance, Epilepsy Foundation, Family Voices, Hemophilia Federation of America, Mended Hearts & Mended Little Hearts, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Alliance for Caregiving, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Hemophilia Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Susan G. Komen, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and Zero - The End of Prostate Cancer.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Allison Miller or Alissa Crispino
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 585-3241 or (202) 661-5772
E-mail:
About the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc
The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, Inc (AONN+), is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. The organization, which has nearly 8900 members, was founded in 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services in order to better manage the complexities of the cancer treatment process.
About the Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship
The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (www.jons-online.com) is the official publication of AONN+. JONS seeks to strengthen the role of nurse and patient navigators in cancer care by serving as a platform for these professionals to disseminate original research findings, exchange best practices, and find support for their growing community.
About CONQUER: the patient voice magazine
CONQUER: the patient voice magazine (www.conquer-magazine.com) is the AONN+ premier forum for patients with cancer. CONQUER magazine features articles written by and for patients with cancer, survivors, nurse navigators, and other oncology team members. This magazine addresses the issues that patients, their family members, and caregivers face every day in an easy-to-read format. Issues include interviews with patients with cancer, information on access to care, and articles on lifestyle topics such as nutrition, stress management, personal finance, and legal and employer issues.
Gwen Coverdale, 267-884-6328
