Sec. 7. Survivorship navigation
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Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— complete a review of previous and current cancer survivorship navigation programs, including any applicable standards of care such as those of the Professional Oncology Navigation Task Force, and the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators, the Oncology Nursing Society; and submit a report to the Congress on the results of such review. In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall take into consideration each of the following:
How cancer survivorship navigation program services might be provided from diagnosis across the continuum of care through survivorship, taking into consideration— the type of navigation services that are most effective for survivors at the time of diagnosis; and the type of navigation services that are most useful for survivors who are managing the late and long-term effects of cancer and cancer treatment. How navigation services might evolve over the continuum of care and how to encourage a dynamic navigation system.
Training needs for navigators. Comparison and delineation of navigation services provided by lay and professional navigators. Evaluation of optimal strategies for offering survivors navigation services and encouraging their utilization of such services. Defining— the continuum of care during which services are provided; and the nature of services for a long-term survivor. The location of navigation services (such as whether such services should be provided as part of oncology practices or outside of oncology practices).
Federal financing for navigation services (such as whether to finance such services through a grant program funded through annual discretionary appropriations). Alternative delivery and payment models for cancer survivorship navigation services, including consideration of— an episode-of-care model for providing cancer survivorship navigation services, or a patient-focused navigation benefit that survivors could utilize in different settings, with the navigation services meeting standards set by the Secretary; and services funded through the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Resources and the role of patient advocacy organizations and peer support networks in cancer survivorship navigation services. The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration program consisting of awarding grants to eligible entities to provide navigation services to cancer survivors. The Secretary shall initiate the demonstration program under this subsection not later than 12 months after completing the review as required under subsection (a)(1)(A). To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an entity shall— have staff and expertise to provide navigation services; and be— a community-based organization; a patient-centered education and service organization; a nonprofit patient or cancer advocacy organization; a community cancer provider; a cancer center; a hospital; a community health center; or another type of entity as the Secretary determines appropriate.
A recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant to provide navigation services to cancer survivors, including by— offering navigation services from diagnosis through the continuum of care, including long-term survivorship, or offering navigation services from the end of active treatment with an emphasis on facilitating the transition from active treatment to long-term survivorship care and throughout survivorship; in a timely manner, assisting cancer survivors to navigate cancer treatment and follow-up services, such as screenings, risk assessment, mitigation, health promotion activities, providing health information and education, coaching, and support; addressing cancer care disparities in the design and delivery of services; ensuring coordination with the survivor’s health care providers; following evidence-based survivorship care guidelines in the design and delivery of survivorship services; ensuring the delivery of culturally appropriate services and materials; and assisting cancer survivors to meet and overcome barriers to treatment and follow-up services, such as any such barriers relating to food insecurity, housing, transportation, labor, access to broadband connectivity, the availability of telehealth, or child care, with emphasis placed on high-risk populations.