Childhood Cancer STAR Act

Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Act of 2016 or the Childhood Cancer STAR Act

TITLE I--MAXIMIZING RESEARCH THROUGH DISCOVERY

Subtitle A--Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Reauthorization Act

(Sec. 101) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to provide support for the collection of the medical specimens and information of children, adolescents, and young adults with selected cancers that have the least effective treatments in order to achieve a better understanding of these cancers and the effects of treatment.

The national childhood cancer registry is reauthorized through FY2021 and revised to authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award grants to state cancer registries to improve tracking of childhood cancers.

Subtitle B--Pediatric Expertise at NIH

(Sec. 111) The National Cancer Advisory Board must include an individual knowledgable in pediatric oncology.

Subtitle C--NIH Report on Childhood Cancer Activities

(Sec. 121) The Pediatric Research Initiative must annually report on childhood cancer research projects conducted or supported by the NIH.

TITLE II--MAXIMIZING DELIVERY: CARE, QUALITY OF LIFE, SURVIVORSHIP, AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT

Subtitle A--Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life Act

(Sec. 201) The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may support pilot programs to develop or study models for monitoring and caring for childhood cancer survivors throughout their lives.

HHS must convene a Workforce Development Collaborative on Medical and Psychosocial Care for Pediatric Cancer Survivors.

(Sec. 202) The NIH may support research on: (1) outcomes for, and barriers faced by, pediatric cancer survivors within minority or medically underserved populations; and (2) follow-up care for pediatric cancer survivors, including research on the late effects of cancer treatment and long-term complications.

(Sec. 203) HHS may establish a task force on standards for high-quality childhood cancer survivorship care.

(Sec. 204) HHS may carry out a demonstration project to improve care coordination as childhood cancer survivors transition to adult care.

Subtitle B--Coverage and Payment of High Quality Care

(Sec. 211) The Government Accountability Office must make recommendations to address barriers to childhood cancer survivors obtaining and paying for adequate medical care.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov