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Advocates Hold Cancer Action Day at State House, Urging Lawmakers to Expand Access to Biomarker Testing & Address Affordability Concerns

CONCORD, NH —March 6, 2025— Earlier today, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers rallied at the New Hampshire State House as a part of their annual Cancer Action Day advocating for several legislative proposals that aim to address the needs of patients across the cancer ... Specifically, the advocates urged support of a proposal to improve access to biomarker testing (SB 120) and legislation relative to insurance cost sharing calculations (SB 17). They also asked lawmakers to protect level funding for the state’s Tobacco Control & Cessation Program, the ...

Bill to Address Breast Cancer Screening Inequities Heads to Healey’s Desk

... requires that health plans regulated by the Commonwealth cover medically necessary screening and diagnostic breast imaging with no out- of-pocket costs. Without this legislation, individuals may be faced with hundreds to thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for a follow up screening.  The following statement can be attributed to Marc Hymovitz, Massachusetts director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): ... this year, ACS CAN commends our legislators for prioritizing equitable access to follow up breast cancer screenings. “The implementation of no-cost preventive services under federal law paved the way for more people to get regular, age-appropriate cancer screenings. However, cost barriers ...

New Survey Finds Affordability Leading Policy Priority for Cancer Patients and Survivors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Protecting free preventive cancer screenings and reducing the burden of medical debt are the top issues of concern for cancer patients and survivors today, according to a new survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) that asked participants to select their leading policy priorities for the year.  Policies to address the high costs of cancer have grown in ... reflecting the urgency to address this issue in the U.S. In this most recent Survivor Views survey, 52% of respondents named protecting no-cost preventive care as one of their top three policy priorities, compared to 37% in 2020, while the importance of addressing medical debt ...

State Sen. Steve Livingston Pre-Files SB19 to Expand Coverage for Cancer Screenings

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Patient advocacy groups including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and ZERO Prostate Cancer applaud Alabama State Sen. Steve Livingston for pre-filing Senate Bill 19 , which eliminates cost sharing for lifesaving prostate cancer screenings for those covered by state-regulated insurance. The bill, which was pre-filed this month in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, would reduce barriers for men over 40 at high risk of developing prostate cancer. If passed, Alabama would ...

Prescription Drug Affordability in Michigan

ACS CAN supports legislation that restricts the use of so-called copay accumulator adjustments in health insurance plans.  We advocate for policies that ensure third party prescription drug copay assistance is counted toward patients’ out-of-pocket cost obligations.  Prescription drug affordability safegaurds that patients and their families can care for themselves while reducing the burden ...

2020 Maine Session Summary

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 Mainers touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2020, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Maine Legislature in support of the following priorities:        Ensuring Access to Quality Care Surprise Medical Billing ... insurance on their own or through a small employer, spreading health care costs across a larger number of individuals and providing greater cost protections for high cost claims within the pooled market. The law also requires insurers to offer a set of health insurance plans that would ...

Advocates Urge South Dakota Lawmakers to Provide the Tools to Detect, Defeat Breast Cancer, Keep Tobacco Fund Intact

... advocates will urge them to take the opportunity to assure those at risk for breast cancer have the tools needed for early detection and defeat of the disease. Regular mammograms are an invaluable tool in detection of breast cancer. Younger women in South Dakota are doing relatively well in ... of an abnormal finding on a screening mammogram or supplemental imaging because of high risk factors. The steps needed for full peace of mind can cost thousands out of pocket. These patients are often put in position of choosing between a full medical workup or paying for a month’s worth of ...

Michigan House Passes Oral Chemotherapy Fairness Legislation

LANSING, MI – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is thrilled to see the House pass oral chemotherapy fairness legislation today. ACS CAN wants to take this moment to thank Rep. Daire Rendon ... This legislation would give chronically ill patients more affordable access to the cancer treatment they need. It would ensure the out-of-pocket cost to the patient for oral chemotherapy and intravenous (IV) chemotherapy are similar. Currently, the out-of-pocket costs for some oral ...

Medical Debt and Cancer

Medical debt impacts many people with cancer, their caregivers and their families. ACS CAN has long fought for public policies – like access to comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage – that reduce the likelihood or severity of that debt. Unfortunately, many Americans remain uninsured or underinsured and even those with comprehensive coverage can still incur significant ... many indirect costs, like transportation and lodging as well as losing wages due to unpaid time off or job loss, that add to their already heavy cost burden.  In March & April of 2024, ACS CAN asked people with cancer and survivors about their experiences with medical debt through a ...

Congressional Budget Cuts to Medicaid would Harm Cancer Patients and Their Families

... is scheduled to mark up its budget resolution this week, setting the stage for significant cuts in discretionary spending to offset the cost of the package. The House Budget Committee is also expected to mark up their own budget resolution soon. Lawmakers in both chambers have suggested ... that help save patients’ lives.   Ahead of the markup, Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released the following statement, urging Congress to resist cuts to the program that is so critical to the cancer fight:  “Any cuts to ...

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