2023 Legislative Priorities in Michigan

INCREASE FUNDING FOR TOBACCO CESSATION AND PREVENTION

ACS CAN is working to increase funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs to $5 million. This increase will allow the program to fund more support for local communities, provide funding for multi-media campaigns, support for Michigan's Quitline, and more.

ORAL CHEMOTHERAPY PARITY
 We support measures to allow patients to plan and predict their prescription drug costs with options that include a $150 cap for a 30-day supply of oral chemotherapy medication or equalized out-of-pocket costs for oral and intravenous chemotherapy drugs.

ENSURING FUNDING FOR VITAL CANCER EARLY DETECTION PROGRAMS
Over several years, state financial support for cancer early detection programs has dwindled, with the funds being moved into different areas of the Michigan Government. Over $1 million was stripped away from the program leaving a greater need for those facing cancer. ACS CAN will advocate to increase funding of $2 million for the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program.

Additional Priorities

Ensuring Access to Quality Care:

• Network Adequacy: ACS CAN will support legislation regarding health insurance network adequacy to help ensure that cancer patients and cancer survivors have access to appropriate medical specialists they may need.

• 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. 
• Palliative Care: ACS CAN will work to improve cancer patients’ quality of life by creating a Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council to identify barriers to the availability of coordinated, supportive care during treatment from the beginning of diagnosis for serious diseases such as cancer.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave: ACS CAN will advocate for legislation that ensures all working cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers have access to paid family and medical leave that allows them to take time off work to attend to their own or a loved one’s care without losing their job or income.
• Nutrition and physical activity
  ACS CAN will support initiatives that promote better nutrition, physical activity, and improved fitness as a cancer prevention strategy. Access to healthy food is an area for improvement in some urban areas in Michigan. Food deserts leave some without access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We support efforts to increase the availability of healthy foods in underserved areas.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco:

• Increase Michigan’s Tobacco Taxes
  Stop the increase in tobacco use in Michigan. Michigan over the past decade has seen a steady decline in the use of tobacco but that decline is starting to plateau. Michigan’s prevention programs are underfunded, limiting their ability to reduce tobacco use rates and increase cancer screening rates. By increasing the cigarette tax $1.00, creating tax parity for other tobacco products, and regulating e-cigarettes as a tobacco product we can curb tobacco use and provide support for those looking to quit. We support efforts to increase the tobacco tax and use the new revenue to increase our tobacco prevention and cessation efforts, detect more cancers early, support our trauma system, and support essential health services for all Michiganders.

Cancer Research Funding:

• Research Appropriations: ACS CAN will work to protect/increase appropriations to support scientific research on cutting-edge treatments.
• Increase funding for cancer prevention
  Ensure adequate funding for the state Cancer Prevention Program. State funds are needed to promote and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce and prevent cancer through the programs offered through MDHHS Cancer section. At the current funding levels, some programs exhaust their allotment early in the year leaving those without access to critical screenings. Increased funding would provide greater opportunities to fight Breast and Colon cancer, two of the most highly treatable cancers, earlier, saving more lives.

Local Control:

• Local governments are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of the people in their communities. ACS CAN supports their ability to pass laws that are proven to promote good health, well-being, and equality. Preserving local control is needed to pass innovative and proactive public health policies. ACS CAN works at the local, state, and federal levels; thus, it supports each level of government’s ability to implement policies for cleaner, safer, healthier communities.