The Alliance for Childhood Cancer is a coalition of over twenty national patient advocacy groups and professional medical and scientific organizations dedicated to working together to address key policy issues related to childhood cancer.

Above: CCCA Executive Director Craig Lustig visits the Alliance for Childhood Cancer booth at the annual ASCO meeting in Chicago in June. Craig is a co-chair of the Alliance.

The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation has announced that new grants are available to help children who need critical health care treatment, services, or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents' health benefit plans.

UHCCF provides grants to families to help pay for child health care services such as speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions, prescriptions, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics, and eyeglasses.

Parents and legal guardians may apply for grants of up to $5,000 each for child medical services and equipment by completing an online application at the UHCCF Web site.

To be eligible for grants, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and be covered by a commercial health benefit plan.

LLS Co-Pay Reimbursements Now Up to $5,000 Qualified patients with specific blood cancers are now eligible for up to $5,000 in reimbursements from LLS's Co-Pay Assistance Program through June 30, 2008. The program assists with insurance premiums and co-pay obligations for patients with the following diseases: Hodgkin lymphoma Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia Acute myelogenous leukemia Myeloma Myelodysplastic syndromes "We're really pleased with the success of this program, which has disbursed more than $2 million to help patients afford skyrocketing healthcare costs," said Anita Welborn, senior director, Patient Services Reimbursement Programs. "The increase to $5,000 from $2,500 per year will definitely help patients and their families at a higher level and ease their overwhelming financial burden." For more information, please visit www.LLS.org/copay, call (877) 557-2672 or email copay@LLS.org