Establishes the lung cancer early detection research pilot program to provide grants to public and private entities doing such research, and appropriates $10,000,000

Title of bill

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing the lung cancer early detection research pilot program; and making an appropriation therefor

Purpose

To create the Lung Cancer Early Detection Research Pilot Program.

Summary of provisions

Section one - adds a new article 20-B to the public health law to create the Lung Cancer Early Detection Research Pilot Program. This program directs the Commissioner of the Department of Health to award not less than 10 competitive grants to public and non-profit private entities to carry out long cancer early detection research.

Section two - appropriates $10 million to the department of health from the tobacco settlement fund.

Section three - contains the effective date.

Existing law

None.

Justification

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths nationally and in New York State, claiming more lives this year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers--combined. This year approximately 13,390 New Yorkers will be diagnosed with lung cancer and an estimated 9,500 will die from the disease. Over 70% will be diagnosed at late stage accounting for the low 15% five year survival rate.

This is why the Lung Cancer Alliance strongly encourages a bill to help address this major public health crisis by supporting a lung cancer early detection research program in New York State. The Alliance suggests utilizing the comprehensive protocol that encompasses pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis, that was developed under best published clinical practices, and that was established by the multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research program that began at 22 sites in New York State in the year 1991 and was initiated as a national and international program in the year 1993.

This legislation will make a difference in reducing cancer deaths because it will allow lung cancer to be managed much earlier than it currently is. Low income populations, particularly minorities and underserved rural individuals, should be targeted to verify cost efficacy in view of the high percentage of Medicaid patients in New York State and lung cancer's higher incidence in that population and the high cost of treating late stage lung cancer.

Legislative history

2008: S.5369 Finance; A.7803 Health 2007: S.5369 Passed Senate; A.7803 Health

Fiscal, implications

$10 million to be allocated from the Tobacco Settlement Fund from the Tobacco Settlement Fund.

Local fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.