Grassley, please do more for health care

Sen. Chuck Grassley: As a longtime volunteer with the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network, I have admired your work in health care. You are reasonable and you are fearless; you have never been afraid to do the right thing for Iowans.

Now, on behalf of thousands of Iowans with cancer, I'm asking you to do the right thing again. You already have indicated your willingness to prohibit insurers from denying coverage or charge higher rates because of pre-existing conditions. You also have indicated your support for portability of insurance when people lose a job or change employers. Thank you.

But you can do more.

By creating more affordable choices for the uninsured, thousands of Iowans would have access to prevention and early cancer screening, saving thousands of lives and reducing costly treatments on the back end.

By offering basic insurance coverage to more Iowans, fewer uninsured patients will seek treatment by the most expensive methods.

Finally, by rising above the rancor of the moment, you can demonstrate how meaningful real political power can be.

Senator, become the Harry Truman of the GOP; a man who rises above the tumult of his time and his party's pressure to do the right things for America's future.

Amy Johnson Boyle

Co-state

lead ambassador

American Cancer Society

Cedar Rapids