Site Search

Share

X

Search Results

Virginia Becomes 33rd State to Increase Access to Health Coverage through Medicaid

Washington, D.C., June 7, 2018 – Today Virginia governor Ralph Northam signed into law a state budget that extends health care coverage to an estimated 400,000 low-income Virginians through the Medicaid program. Virginia is now the 33 rd state, in addition to Washington, D.C., to accept federal funding to provide health insurance coverage to adults earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level—just under $17,000 a year for a single adult. As ...

House Votes to Stop Tax Subsidies for Inadequate Health Plans

Washington, D.C., May 9, 2019—Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would halt Department of Health and Human Services and Department of the Treasury guidance enabling individuals to use federal tax subsidies to purchase health insurance that does not meet coverage standards under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: “Limiting the ...

Kansas Governor’s Repeat Veto of Short-Term Health Plan Bill Protects Patients

... Kansas –  Today, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 199, which would have increased Kansans’ exposure to inadequate, high-risk health plans that can skirt patient protections required by federal law, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions. This veto is a repeat of the ... (STLDPs) because these plans often deny coverage or charge more for coverage, do not cap out-of-pocket expenses, and may not cover essential health benefits such as prescription medication, maternity care and mental health. A January 2022 poll from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society found that 92 percent of Americans think that people can be duped ...

New Health Disparities Chartbook Illustrates Inequities in Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survivorship

WASHINGTON, DC - October 17, 2018 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released a publication today to illustrate health disparities across the cancer continuum and discuss public policy strategies to address those disparities. Cancer Disparities: A Chartbook ... ACS CAN is actively pursuing evidence-based public policies at the local, state and federal levels that aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for all U.S. population groups. It highlights some of the greatest gaps and challenges, which will further guide ACS CAN in its ... must include enhanced prevention and early detection, increased access to coverage and treatment across all populations; and delivery of care in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. Continued research – particularly on ways to collect disparities data, implement public ...

Letter: Administration Action Should Not Undermine Access to Affordable, Comprehensive Health Coverage

WASHINGTON – Twenty organizations representing millions of patients and consumers across the country sent a letter to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury urging the administration to address patient concerns before finalizing troubling rules that as currently drafted would undermine access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage. The groups note, “Your Departments have recently proposed a number of policy changes, the cumulative effect we believe will have ... 6.4 million Americans being uninsured in 2019. The groups also note that while reducing premiums is a shared goal, those with high-cost health care needs like cancer could actually end up paying more out of pocket to access recommended treatment and follow-up care. Furthermore, if bare ...

ACS CAN files legal brief in support of protections for people with serious health needs

... to file a legal brief or amicus curiae that describes the devastating impact patients would face if the district court rules the Affordable Care Act is not a valid law. Twenty states, led by the Attorney General of Texas, recently filed a lawsuit , Texas v United States of America. They ... Care Act must be struck down because it cannot stand now that Congress repealed the tax penalty that a person receives if they do not have health care coverage. ACS CAN and the other patient groups urged the court in their legal brief to uphold the Affordable Care Act and to “recognize Congress’s clear intent to improve access to lifesaving health care for millions of Americans.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) is typically responsible for defending the country’s laws, but, in this ...

ACS CAN testifies before Congress about protecting affordable health insurance for cancer patients

“Enactment of the ACA [Affordable Care Act] has allowed Americans with cancer and other serious conditions access to the care they need,” said Keysha Brooks-Coley, the vice ... expected to be diagnosed with cancer, and over 15.5 million Americans are cancer survivors. For these Americans, access to affordable, quality health insurance can be a matter of life or death. Prior to the ACA, cancer patients and others living with serious illnesses or pre existing conditions could be denied health insurance coverage as cancer was considered a preexisting condition. However, since the ACA was passed, “Those with comprehensive ...

ACS CAN Submits Comments to CMS on Proposed Marketplace Health Insurance Changes

... Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services regarding proposed changes to marketplace health insurance plans. The submitted comments detail several ways the proposed ACA Market Stabilization rule could make it harder for cancer patients and survivors to access quality, affordable health insurance that meets their needs. The comment letter states, “we are concerned that some of the policies that are proposed will actually ... don’t always happen during open enrollment. SEPs allow cancer patients in these situations to enroll in new coverage and maintain ongoing care. As proposed, increased restrictions on SEP enrollment, including pre-enrollment documentation requirements without concurrent marketplace ...

Cancer Advocates Celebrate Continued Access to Care for Hardworking Montanans

... would like to thank the 89 representatives and senators (59% of both houses) who supported a bi-partisan solution that will maintain access to health insurance coverage for 96,000 hardworking low-income Montanans. “We are especially proud of Reps. Ed Buttrey, Mary Caferro and Gov. Steve Bullock for their commitment to preserving access to care for countless low-income state residents. “Medicaid matters in the fight against cancer. Preserving access to care is one of the most ... that will reauthorize the Montana HELP Act and create a path for the state of Montana to continue providing life-changing and lifesaving health care coverage to low-income Montanans in 2019 and beyond. “However, we remain concerned about the potential impact that new administrative ...

Cancer Patients Need Accurate Information When Shopping for Health Coverage in Medicare

... "The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is troubled by reports that the administration is not enforcing a requirement that health plans provide accurate information in Medicare provider directories. Cancer disproportionately impacts older Americans, most of whom access health insurance through Medicare. Access to accurate information is critical for families affected by cancer who are trying to guarantee their insurance coverage will meet their health care needs. Medicare beneficiaries could face significant out-of-pocket costs if they buy a plan only to find out that a necessary medical provider ...

Type

Priority Issue

State

Policy Issue

Judicial Advocacy