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Spikes in Cost Increase the Burden of Affording Cancer Care

... vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills.  Over the two years that Carla is in treatment for stage III breast cancer, she experiences a spike in cost of over $8,000 in the first two months of each year. While she may be able to afford to spend this much on her care spread over the whole ...

Pandemic and Threat to Patient Protections Magnify the "Costs of Cancer"

Anyone who has heard the words, “You have cancer,” – or supported a loved one, a family member or a colleague who did – can attest to how devastating and life-altering a cancer diagnosis is. As a leading cause of death and disease in our country, cancer already bears an enormous toll on the personal lives and health of patients and survivors as well as on ... staggering this financial burden can be. In 2018, cancer patients paid $5.6 billion out of pocket for cancer treatments. Overall, the disease cost our country $183 billion in direct cancer-related health care spending in 2015—an amount that is projected to increase to $246 billion by ...

ACS CAN Statement on Administration’s Proposals to Curb Rising Prescription Drug Costs

Washington, D.C., —Today the president is expected to announce American Patients First, a series of proposed policy solutions aimed at reducing the rising costs of prescription drugs.  Proposals expected to be announced include various changes ... as a mechanism to bring down costs. A statement from Chris Hansen, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows:  “Cancer patients rely on prescription drugs to treat, survive and recover from their disease. Promising new therapies have ... the transparency and patient understanding of prescription drug coverage including the list of drugs covered under a medical benefit, the cost sharing, and any utilization management tools.  “While we appreciate the administration’s commitment and support reform that won’t have ...

Advocates Urge North Dakota Lawmakers to Reduce the Cost of Fighting Cancer

BISMARCK, N.D. –– North Dakota legislators have strong momentum against cancer heading into the second half of the session as bills on prior authorization reform, supplemental breast cancer detection screenings and co-pay accumulator adjustments are ... Prior authorization reform: For the more than 4,500 North Dakotans who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, medical prior authorization can delay treatment, increase stress and have a negative impact on care. Senate Bill 2280 would establish standards and transparency to prior ... breast diagnostic mammograms (x-rays), breast ultrasounds, and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans be covered by insurers at no-cost-share when deemed medically necessary by their physician. It would allow North Dakotans to complete the full continuum of breast cancer ...

Advocates Urge North Dakota Lawmakers to Reduce the Cost of Fighting Cancer

BISMARCK, N.D. -- As North Dakota legislators close their first week of business for the new year, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network advocates on Monday will ask them to take strong action to reduce the cost of fighting cancer.  ACS CAN volunteers look forward to meeting with lawmakers and urging them to pass important legislation around prescription drug copay accumulator ...

Overall Cancer Costs are Rising

  The Problem The U.S. spent approximately $183 billion on cancer-related health care in 2015. This represents a signification portion of the total health care spending in the U.S. And it is expected to keep growing. By 2030 cancer-related health care spending is expected to reach ... These high costs are paid by many people – individual cancer patients and their families, employers, insurance companies and taxpayers.  ACS CAN Fights for Solutions ACS CAN wants to ensure that all individuals can afford the right health care services at the right time, no matter where ... policymakers must focus on ensuring affordable access to insurance coverage and health care services, and reducing the overall financial impact of cancer for patients and families. Policymakers can also limit costs of cancer by pursuing policies that promote cancer prevention and early ...

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Prioritizing Out-of-pocket Costs in 2021

SPRINGFIELD, IL – As lawmakers dive into the new year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) asks that legislators support legislation that will ease the cancer burden in Illinois. Long after this pandemic passes, people deserve to live full, healthy lives. ACS CAN is advocating for:  Prescription Out-of-pocket Costs : legislation that would allow patients to plan and predict their prescription drug costs with options that include a fixed co-pay, $150 cap for 30 day supply, or fixed annual out-of-pocket limit for prescriptions on the health exchange market. This would allow patients to plan and predict their prescription drug costs by ...

Oregon Cancer Policy Luncheon to Address Cost of Breast Cancer in The State

... breast cancer. Research shows that access to quality and affordable health care coverage is key in the ability to fight cancer. Cancer is one of the leading causes of disease and death in the United States. An analysis by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) shows that cancer patients pay nearly $4 billion in out-of-pocket costs each year and the disease cost the country nearly $88 billion every year in health care spending. On Friday, October 26, a group of patient advocates, health care experts, ...

House Leadership Proposes Broad Legislation to Reduce Patient Out-Of-Pocket Drug Costs

... (D-Calif.), introduced legislation intended to bring down patient drug costs. The bill includes a provision to cap Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in Medicare Part D, allow the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary to negotiate prices for some drugs, and link select drug prices to the rates paid by other industrialized countries, among several other proposed changes. ACS CAN will continue to evaluate proposed provisions in the package to determine potential impact on cancer patients and survivors. A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: “We welcome Speaker Pelosi and House leadership’s action to address the ...

Lawmakers to Address Cost of Prescriptions Drugs for Cancer Patients and Others with Chronic Disease

PROVIDENCE–  With today’s introduction of S0799 in the Senate and last week’s introduction of H6159 in the House, Rhode Island lawmakers have taken the first step towards ensuring ... and lawmakers convened at the State House to urge lawmakers to support this legislation ahead of the bill introductions. To help afford the cost of their prescription drugs, many Rhode Islanders take advantage of copay assistance offered through pharmaceutical manufacturers and other ... longer to reach their required deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums,” said Ryan Strik, Rhode Island Director of Government Relations for ACS CAN. “Copay adjustment programs put patients and their families in an impossible situation – having to choose between their health and other ...

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