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Bipartisan Health Package Offers Path Toward Reducing Patients’ Out-Of-Pocket Costs; Improving Public Health

... D.C.—Today the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will markup legislation aimed at helping reduce patients’ out-of-pocket health care costs and improving public health. The Lower Health Care Costs Act would exempt patients from having to pay surprise medical ... a measure to encourage generic competition (the Creating and Restoring Equal Access t o Equivalent Samples – CREATES Act ) so generic drugs can more quickly enter the market, raises the federal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21, and extends funding for Federally Qualified Health ... with cancer this year and the nearly 17 million cancer survivors alive today, we urge Congress to continue working together to address the high cost of health care by removing affordability barriers and promoting prevention and we look forward to working with the lawmakers on these ...

New Report: Cancer Survivors in New York Face High Costs of Care and Debt Years After Treatment

ALBANY , NY – DECEMBER 15, 2022 – The costs of being diagnosed with cancer last long after the diagnosis and initial treatment putting cancer survivors at increased risk for lifelong financial hardship, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). The report,  The Costs of Cancer Survivorship , examines several of the long-term expenses cancer survivors face in the years after they ... The report details several policies that should be enacted to help patients and survivors afford their care, including eliminating unexpected cost-sharing for cancer screenings and ensuring payment or financial products offered to patients to pay their medical bills are not predatory. In ...

Senate Finance Committee Proposes Capping Medicare Patients’ Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs in Drug Pricing Bill

Washington, D.C.—Today the Senate Finance Committee is marking up the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act (PDPRA) of 2019, which includes a provision to cap Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in Medicare Part D, among several other proposed changes intended to bring down patient costs. ACS CAN will continue to evaluate proposed provisions in the package to determine potential impact on cancer patients and survivors. A statement from ... to provide some important financial relief to these patients. However, we have concerns that the $3,100 threshold may still be too high of a cost burden for those patients on a fixed income. We urge the Committee to consider those that are most impacted by these costs and adjust the cap ...

Health Plan Rule Change Could Increase Patient Costs

Washington, D.C.—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week finalized the 2021 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters, which sets the rules for health care plans in the coming year. Included in the rule is a provision that would ... people who qualify for zero-premium plans through the health exchange. A statement from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: “Allowing health plans to choose to ignore co-pay coupons in calculating a person’s total out-of-pocket drug costs could ...

High Deductible Health Plans Cause Extreme Spikes in Cost

The Problem Most patients experience spikes in their health care costs around the time of a cancer diagnosis as they pay their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. For patients on high deductible plans, this spike can mean bills due for several thousands of dollars within one month. High deductibles often cause individuals to delay or forego care due to cost, which means it may take longer to get a cancer diagnosis and begin life-saving care. And the number of people enrolling in high deductible ...

Some Patients Lack Access to Lower-cost Drug Alternatives

The Problem Many cancer patients take multiple drugs as part of their treatment – often for many months or years. While drugs are not the only costly part of cancer treatment, finding ways to reduce these costs for patients and payers will significantly reduce the overall cost burden of cancer. Biosimilars and generics are lower cost alternative versions to some cancer drugs that may become available after the ... and her insurer nearly $75,000 over two years. If she had access to a biosimilar, those overall costs would have decreased by over 20%.  ACS CAN Fights for Solutions ACS CAN supports efforts to ensure biosimilar and generic drugs are available to patients either through prescription from ...

House to Vote on Comprehensive Drug Pricing Legislation, Provisions Include Capping Medicare Patients’ Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Costs

Washington, D.C.—The U.S. House of Representatives will vote today on a bill intended to bring down patient prescription drug costs. Several of the bill’s numerous provisions ... including establishing an annual cap on Medicare enrollees’ out-of-pocket expenses, allowing some Medicare beneficiaries to spread out high-cost prescription cost-sharing over the course of the year, and expanding Medicare eligibility for low-income subsidies under the program. A ... Cancer Institute (NCI). The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): “Today’s vote in the House is an important step towards Congress addressing prescription drug costs for patients, especially for those ...

New Report Highlights Cost Barriers Associated with Diagnostic Tests for Breast Cancer

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  A new report by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) found that over 70% of commercially-insured patients encountered out-of-pocket expenses for follow-up breast cancer diagnostic tests in 2023. ... MRI, ultrasound or biopsy, are medically recommended next steps to determine if an individual may or may not have cancer; however, barriers like cost can keep people from getting them. While screening mammograms are free to most insured women starting at age 40, follow-up testing often ...

House Subcommittee Considers Bills Addressing Patient Health Care Costs and Access Issues

Washington, D.C.—Today the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will mark-up a series of bills aimed at reducing patient out-of-pocket costs and preserving access to health care. Specifically, the committee will consider a measure that would exempt patients from having to ... Fund for four years at $4 billion annually. A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: “We welcome today’s committee action focused on reducing patients’ out-of-pocket health care costs and preserving access to ...

Non-Medical Costs Associated with Clinical Trials Continue to be Barrier to Diverse Participation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) was joined by 20 other organizations in proposing the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General adopt a new regulatory safe harbor from the Anti-kickback Statute that would allow clinical trial sponsors to financially ... clinical trial participation, such as travel, parking and lodging. The letter reads in part: “Although there are myriad reasons for the lack of diversity in clinical trials, one is straightforward: many diverse individuals simply cannot afford to participate in clinical trials. A ...

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