Welcome to OCRA’s Advocate’s Corner, a new monthly series to keep you updated on how our Advocate Leaders and policy team are working on behalf of the ovarian and gynecologic cancer community.
OCRA’s Advocates are beginning 2024 with great momentum. Here’s a look at our most impactful achievements in 2023:
Co-founded a coalition to address the current chemotherapy drug shortage and prevent future shortages.
Nearly 300 advocates from 44 states met with 380+ Congressional offices to push for important initiatives, including expanded Medicare coverage of life-saving tools like genetic testing, at OCRA’s Spring and Fall Advocacy Days.
Secured 19 new co-sponsors on targeted legislation for federal education and awareness programs as a result of our Fall Advocacy Day.
Spearheaded Dear Colleague letters in both the U.S. House and Senate calling for an increase to $50 million for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s Ovarian Cancer Research Program. The bipartisan letters were signed by almost 100 legislators.
Initiated a research project to identify health disparities within gynecologic cancer outcomes, with an initial focus on racial and geographic disparities in care.
As the largest organization advocating on behalf of patients, survivors and families of those facing ovarian and related gynecologic cancers, OCRA is committed to effecting legislative change that can prevent more diagnoses, improve outcomes, and ease the financial burden of treatment and care.
The Congressional Appropriations Committees have released a combined FY2026 Defense/Labor, Health and Human Services bill—and it includes several critical investments and policy provisions that would significantly strengthen the federal response to ovarian and other gynecologic cancers. This bill represents meaningful progress for our community, but it is not final. Congress must act swiftly to advance and … Continued
The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance today praised the release of the FY2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill by the Congressional Appropriations Committees and urged swift action to advance and enact the legislation. The bill includes critical funding and policy provisions supporting ovarian cancer research, education, and early detection. Add Your Voice … Continued
In a new piece published by citybiz, OCRA’s Vice President, Policy, Chad Ramsey, discusses the launch of OCRA’s Center for Public Policy, highlighting its role in expanding critical advocacy work and bringing more agency to the gynecologic cancer community. Ramsey explains how patient, survivor, and caregiver experiences have helped shape OCRA’s advocacy priorities over the past … Continued
