This resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The commission establishes cancer care standards in health care settings and accredits cancer programs that meet those standards.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 997 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 997
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer and the importance of Commission on Cancer-
accredited programs in ensuring comprehensive, high-quality, patient-
centered cancer care.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 18, 2022
Mr. Higgins of New York (for himself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Kilmer, and
Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer and the importance of Commission on Cancer-
accredited programs in ensuring comprehensive, high-quality, patient-
centered cancer care.
Whereas the Commission on Cancer was established by the American College of
Surgeons in 1922 as a consortium of professional organizations dedicated
to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through
standard setting, which promotes cancer prevention, research, education,
and monitoring of comprehensive quality care;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer is comprised of individuals and representatives
of more than 50 cancer-related organizations;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer establishes standards to ensure quality,
multidisciplinary, and comprehensive cancer care delivery in health care
settings;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer conducts surveys in health care settings to
assess compliance with those standards;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer collects standardized data from Commission on
Cancer-accredited health care settings to measure cancer care quality;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer uses data to monitor treatment patterns and
outcomes, and enhance cancer control and clinical surveillance
activities;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer develops effective educational interventions to
improve cancer prevention, early detection, cancer care delivery, and
outcomes in health care settings;
Whereas the Commission on Cancer has accredited more than 1,500 cancer programs
in the United States and Puerto Rico;
Whereas accreditation from the American College of Surgeons is a voluntary
commitment by a cancer program that ensures patients will have access to
the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate,
and support patients with cancer and their families;
Whereas accreditation allows cancer programs to continually evaluate performance
and take proactive, corrective actions when necessary;
Whereas continuous evaluation reaffirms the commitment of the cancer program to
provide high-quality, patient-centered cancer care;
Whereas accreditation is regarded as important in improving oncologic outcomes
through compliance with standards that include continuous quality
improvement;
Whereas quality standards required for accreditation assure that patients
receive comprehensive care with a multidisciplinary team approach to
coordinate the best available treatment options;
Whereas patients treated by accredited cancer programs receive information about
ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatment options, and access to
a cancer database that offers lifelong patient followup;
Whereas accreditation promotes access to prevention and early detection
programs, cancer education, and support services;
Whereas patients treated in accredited cancer programs have access to the full
continuum of patient-centered care including distress screening, patient
navigation, and delivery of survivorship care plans that detail
treatments received and provide detailed information on future care
needs;
Whereas accreditation requires evaluation of the entire scope, organization, and
activity of a cancer program by external peer review from specially
trained surveyors who evaluate compliance with stringent standards
designed to promote high-quality care;
Whereas the quality reporting tools from the over 30,000,000 cases reported to
the Commission on Cancer's National Cancer Database provide feedback
needed to initiate quality improvement studies which ultimately lead to
implementation of quality improvements in accredited cancer programs;
Whereas the cancer accreditation programs of the American College of Surgeons
use data submitted to such Database to verify and improve quality of
care in cancer programs and to further scientific research; and
Whereas the American College of Surgeons accredited cancer programs in the
United States and Puerto Rico care for approximately 70 percent of newly
diagnosed cancer patients in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 100th
anniversary of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
and the importance of Commission on Cancer-accredited programs in
ensuring comprehensive, high-quality, patient-centered cancer care.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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