2022 Connecticut 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 Connecticut families touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2022, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Legislature in support of the following priorities: 
 

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco  

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN will work to restore $12 million in funding for CDC recommended evidence-based tobacco control programs that were completely eliminated as part of the 2018-2019 state budget. Currently, Connecticut is tied for second in the nation in cigarette taxation but last in tobacco control funding.  

• Preserving Medicaid funding for Tobacco Cessation and Prevention: ACS CAN will work to preserve existing funding of $3.4 million for Tobacco Cessation and Prevention through Medicaid, including maintaining coverage for all 7 FDA approved quit methods.  

Preserving Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survivorship 

• Biomarker testing coverage: ACS CAN will advocate for policies that will expand appropriate coverage of biomarker testing for public and private insurance plans. Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatment. We must work to dismantle barriers that prevent patients from benefiting from biomarker testing and precision medicine, and work to ensure all patients benefit, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or zip code.  

• Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings:  ACS CAN will advocate to preserve level funding of $2.19 million for the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program for low- income, uninsured or underinsured women administered by the Department of Public Health.  Additionally, ACS CAN will work to ensure the program has the flexibility to be able to dedicate resources to outreach. While there remain many patients eligible for these life-saving screenings, most do not know the program exists. 

• Access to HPV Vaccine: ACS CAN will advocate to preserve existing funding of $11 million to provide access to the HPV vaccine for all 11-12-year-old individuals through the Connecticut Immunization Program.