2026 Kansas Legislative Priorities

Ensuring Access to Quality Care
More than 300,000 people in the United States die from cancer each year because they lack access to affordable, adequate, quality care and treatment, and millions of others are forced to skip lifesaving care or spend their savings to pay for it.
Medicaid Defense: The preservation of eligibility, coverage, and access to Medicaid remains critically important for many low-income Kansans who depend on the program for cancer and chronic disease prevention, as well as early detection, diagnostic, and treatment services. ACS CAN will work to ensure Medicaid enrollees have adequate access and coverage and will oppose proposals that create barriers or reduce access to care for cancer patients, survivors, and those who could be diagnosed with cancer.
Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN will advocate for policies that ensure access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health insurance including Medicaid and will support efforts to curb the availability of inadequate health plans.
Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN will advocate for low-income individuals and families to have access to comprehensive health insurance coverage and non-emergent medical transportation services through state Medicaid programs.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
Cancer screenings significantly impact cancer diagnosis by enabling early detection of cancers in individuals without symptoms, leading to better treatment outcomes and increased survival rates when cancers are caught at earlier stages.
Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain current funding for the Early Detection Works Program, the state breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Department of Health and Environment.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco
Tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer death and disease in the United States. The annual cost of health care in Kansas directly linked to smoking is $1.31 billion. Effective tobacco control policies are necessary to reduce tobacco use in the state and prevent young people from becoming addicted.
Tobacco Cessation and Prevention: ACS CAN will advocate to restore FY 2025 funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs.