2021 PA Legislative Priorities

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early
detection of cancer, expand access to quality, affordable health care and reduce cancer disparities. Cancer is
a disease that affects everyone, but it doesn’t affect everyone equally. Lawmakers make many decisions that
impact the lives of Pennsylvanians 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 state 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:

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

Medication Access: ACS CAN will advocate for legislation that ensures prior authorization and step
therapy requirements for prescription drugs are clear, efficient and patient-friendly while also allowing
for exceptions when appropriate.

Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN will advocate for policies that ensure access to quality,
affordable and comprehensive health insurance and will support efforts to curb the availability of
inadequate health plans including association health plans, short-term limited duration plans and policies
such as work requirements.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 

Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding of $2.563 million for
Pennsylvania’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA-BCCEDP), the state breast
and cervical cancer screening program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women
administered by the PA Department of Health.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN will work to fund and sustain evidence-based,
statewide tobacco use prevention and cessation programs at $14.7 million.


Smoke-free Air: ACS CAN will work to implement a statewide comprehensive smoke-free law that
includes all restaurants, bars, gaming facilities, non-hospitality workplaces and prohibits the use of e-cigarettes wherever smoking is prohibited.

For more information, contact: Emma Watson, Pennsylvania Government Relations Director ACS CAN
[email protected] 717-805-1528

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.