Mission Moment November 2020

Top News

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month AND COPD Awareness Month: As we still grapple with the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, November reminds us that lung cancer and COPD are still serious threats to lung health. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of both women and men in America. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) affects millions of Americans and is the third leading cause of disease-related death in the U.S. The Lung Association is working throughout the month to provide tools, information, support and raise awareness about two of America’s most serious health threats. Learn more in the Lung Cancer and COPD sections below. 

Dream Team on Lungcast™: Our latest episode of Lungcast™ captures the spirit of Lung Cancer Awareness Month by featuring leaders of the Lung Cancer Interception Dream Team, Dr. Avrum Spira at Boston University and Dr. Steven Dubinett at University of California, Los Angeles. The Dream Team – our joint effort with @StandUpToCancer and @LUNGevity – is an historic alliance of 35 experts focused on discovering better ways to detect lung cancer before it takes hold. To listen to the full interview, visit: Lung.org/lungcast. 

COVID-19 Resources: We are here for you during the COVID-19 pandemic with trusted information and resources to help us all get through this crisis together. Find the latest at Lung.org/covid19. Recent additions include  our most recent COVID-19 Town Hall Series and updates on our COVID-19 Action Initiative. Be sure to follow our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram social channels and share these timely resources to your network.

Open Enrollment is Here: From November 1 until December 15, individuals who purchase health insurance on the individual market or are uninsured can sign up for quality and affordable health insurance coverage at Healthcare.gov for 2021. This year, open enrollment is especially important for the millions of Americans who have lost employed-sponsored coverage as a result of COVID-19. Last year, over 80 percent of people who enrolled in Marketplace plans were eligible for financial help. We have resources to help people with lung disease sign up for quality and affordable health coverage at Lung.org/openenrollment. This year we have added information on healthcare coverage during COVID-19, translated some of our key materials into Spanish, and developed new infographics for patients with lung disease. Keep checking back for updates over the next few weeks and if you need health insurance, please be sure to sign up before December 15. 

SUPPORT THE LUNG ASSOCIATION

Support Us Through a Virtual Event: At a time when our lungs are at extreme risk, your support is more important than ever! Because of COVID-19, many of our crucial fundraising events, like walks, run/walks and stair climbs, have had to go virtual.  Your participation in a Lung Association virtual fundraising event is critical so that we can continue our lifesaving work. Check out our list of events that have gone virtual.

LUNG FORCE Offers New Ways to Learn More and Unite During Lung Cancer Awareness Month: During November’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month, our LUNG FORCE initiative is uniting the nation to stand together against the #1 cancer killer, lung cancer. Throughout the month, we will be sharing new lung cancer data showing the progress made against the disease and the opportunity to raise critical awareness in an effort to save more lives. There are so many ways to get involved! 

• Check out LUNG FORCE’s #30Days30Heroes on Twitter
• Use our Lung Cancer Awareness Month Facebook Frame
• Donate to enable lifesaving research

Learn more at Lung.org/LCAM..

‘State of Lung Cancer’ Report: The third annual “State of Lung Cancer” report, released November 17, shows how the  toll of lung cancer varies by state and examines key indicators throughout the U.S. including: new cases, survival, early diagnosis, surgical treatment, lack of treatment and screening rates. For the first time, the State of Lung Cancer report explores the lung cancer burden among racial and ethnic minorities. Learn more at Lung.org/SOLC.

LUNG FORCE Hero: For months, Denise L. drove past one or our LUNG FORCE “Saved By The Scan” billboards. She never expected that the advice on that billboard would save her life! Like many other lung cancer survivors she now finds support through our partnership with Imerman Angels.

Save the Date for the Virtual LUNG FORCE Expos: Mark your calendar for December 8 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET and May 18 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. CT for the American Lung Association’s virtual nationwide LUNG FORCE Expos. The virtual healthcare professional programs will provide an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming trends, resources and research around lung health, lung cancer and COVID-19. Continuing education credits will be available for RNs, RRTs, and Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES). Registration information is coming soon! Questions? E-mail us at [email protected].

Promoting Lung Cancer Screening: Lung cancer screening saves lives but setting up a screening program can be complicated. On November 19, our Chief Medical Officer, Albert Rizzo, M.D., shared our Lung Cancer Screening Implementation Guide with the nationwide members of the American Hospital Association. This important resource is a pragmatic guide and toolkit of how to design, implement, and conduct a lung cancer screening program in hospitals and health systems. 

COPD

November is COPD Awareness Month: Did you know that at least 16 million Americans are living with COPD? November is COPD Awareness Month, and the American Lung Association is the go-to source for information, resources and support. We’re also supporting cutting edge COPD research through our Grants and Awards program and our Airways Clinical Research Centers network. Resources and information include:

• Our Better Breathers Clubs offer a local support community for people living with COPD and other chronic lung diseases. In-person meeting have been put on hold due to COVID19, but virtual meetings still offer the support and sense of community you need!
• Tools like our COPD Action Plan help you track and manage your symptoms daily
• Our Living with COPD Online Support Community give you the chance to network with and learn from others with COPD from across the country.

Learn about these and more at Lung.org/COPD, and read our new blog “Caregiver Support During COPD Awareness Month.”

RESEARCH

COVID-19 Research Awards Announcement: We’re committed to finding – and funding – solutions to the pandemic. As a key tenet of our COVID-19 Action Initiative, the recipients of our inaugural COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Research Award were recently announced. Each of the 12 awardees was funded at $100,000 a year for two years totaling a $2.4 million commitment. To learn more about the award and funded projects, visit: Lung.org/covid19-award

Announcing New Awards & Grants Recipients: We are proud to announce our research investment for 2020-21 totaling approximately $11.55 million. It is in support of 98 nationwide research awards and grants, including the ACRC Network and 12 recipients of our brand-new COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Research Award. Learn more more about this year’s awardees. 

HEALTHCARE

Defending the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court: On Tuesday, November 10^th, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Texas v. California. This case seeks to challenges the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act on the grounds that the penalty for not having insurance is currently $0. The American Lung Association and our partners have filed an Amicus brief in support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) arguing that the law still constitutional. The ACA protects patients with pre-existing conditions, including those with lung cancer, COPD and asthma. Additionally, it requires most insurance plans to cover preventive services, including vaccines, lung cancer screenings and quit tobacco treatment with no cost-sharing. 

HEALTHY AIR

Webinar with Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board: On October 14, the Lung Association co-hosted a conversation with Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board, alongside the American University Center for Environmental Politics. If you weren’t able to make the webinar, you can hear Chair Nichols cover topics including the legacy and future of the Clean Air Act, the use of science at EPA, the importance of cleaning up the transportation sector, how wildfires have impacted climate and air pollution policy, and more by accessing the recording here.

National Health & Medical Organizations, Health Professionals, and Thousands of Individuals Call for Stronger Ozone Standards: On October 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency closed the public comment period for the proposal to retain the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The Lung Association joined 18 other health, medical, and nursing organizations in filing comments opposing the proposal. Thanks largely to the great effort of many of you across the country we also filed a letter from nearly 500 health professionals representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a petition from 3,506 individuals calling for stronger standards.  

EACH BREATH BLOG 

This year’s fall and winter celebrations are going to look a little different. As we begin to prepare for time with family and friends, infectious disease experts are urging caution. Learn more in our latest blog “How to Celebrate a Safe Holiday During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Your support makes our mission possible!

COVID-19 has made our lifesaving mission more important than ever and it’s only through the help of supporters like you that our mission is possible. Because of your support, we are conducting research to discover new ways to prevent, treat and even cure lung diseases like COVID-19. As we approach Thanksgiving, we want to THANK YOU for all you do to help during this most critical time!