Kansas Governor a Strong Choice Due to Experience in Navigating Complex Health Care Access Issues, Working Across Party Lines to Promote Reform

WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- US Oncology, which supports one of the nation's largest cancer treatment and research networks representing approximately 1,200 oncologists nationwide, applauds today's Senate confirmation of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

"US Oncology is pleased to see Secretary Sebelius take the helm of national health care reform and push for new methods to address the current obstacles restricting access to quality health care for all -- particularly for the more than 10 million Americans now living with cancer," said Roy Beveridge, M.D., Chairman of the US Oncology Public Policy Steering Committee. "We look forward to working closely with Sec. Sebelius and her colleagues to create practical, enduring solutions that address our system challenges while always first advancing the needs of America's cancer patients."

Prior to her appointment as Secretary, Gov. Sebelius established a record of working in a bipartisan manner to promote health care reform during her eight years as Governor and six years as Kansas' insurance commissioner, and helped draft a national patients' bill of rights during her work as commissioner. As HHS Secretary, she will lead the federal government's largest domestic department, overseeing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other key health care decision-making agencies.

"Secretary Sebelius will play a chief role in promoting the advancement of sweeping reform measures and technological innovations designed to improve care delivery while lowering costs, such as President Obama's priority to expand the use of health information technology and electronic medical records (EMRs)," added Dr. Beveridge. "US Oncology's extensive iKnowMed oncology-specific EMR system has led to major care improvements and enhanced patient outcomes, and we hope to work with Sec. Sebelius to apply similar strategies designed to improve the patient and physician experience across all areas of care."

About US Oncology, Inc.

Headquartered in Houston, US Oncology works closely with physicians, manufacturers and payers to enhance patient access to advanced cancer care in the community setting. US Oncology supports the nation's foremost cancer treatment and research network in its efforts to accelerate the availability and use of scientific, evidence-based medicine.

According to the company's last quarterly earnings report, US Oncology is affiliated with more than 1,200 physicians operating in approximately 485 locations, including 92 cancer centers and radiation facilities in 39 states. For more information, visit the company's Web site, www.usoncology.com.

SOURCE US Oncology

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