Share

2021 Montana Legislative Priorities

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Montanans touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2021, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the Montana Legislature on legislative and regulatory efforts that address disruption in cancer care and screenings; provide affordable, adequate access to healthcare insurance including Medicaid; as well appropriations funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention policies that help people that use tobacco products quit and deter kids from ever using tobacco products. We will be making the following evidence-based policies a priority and ask for your support:

 

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

  • Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding:  ACS CAN will work to sustain the evidence-based, statewide tobacco use prevention and cessation program.
  • Smoke-free Air:  ACS CAN will work to protect our statewide comprehensive smoke-free law that includes all restaurants, bars, gaming facilities, and non-hospitality workplaces. ACS CAN will work to defend the statewide smoke-free law and local policies against any exemptions.

 

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

  • Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding for Cancer Screening Services, the state breast and cervical cancer screening program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.

                   

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

  • Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN will advocate for low-income individuals and families to have access to health insurance coverage through state Medicaid programs. We will support policies that preserve funding and access to Medicaid Expansion for low-income parents and adults. 


For more information, contact: Kristin Page-Nei, Montana Government Relations Director ACS CAN  

 

[email protected]  - Phone 406.360.8752  


ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer.