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Survivor Views: One in Ten Impacted by Recent Drug Shortages

Overview The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change, as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As part of this effort, ACS CAN deploys surveys to better understand cancer patient and survivor experiences and perspectives, through our Survivor Views ... they were a good candidate for it, however most (69%) did not discuss it with their doctor. Nine percent did not have biomarker testing due to cost or coverage concerns. Telehealth Four-in-five agree it is important for cancer patients to have access to telehealth services from out of ...

House Passes Legislation That Won’t Improve Health Outcomes

... The following is a statement from Doug Hogan, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in West Virginia: "The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges the Senate to amend House Bill 4753, the biomarker ... tests that can allow them to benefit from the right treatments at the right time – often leading to improved health outcomes, better quality of life, and ultimately cost savings – but this legislation falls short of those goals.  “Biomarker testing and precision medicine are helping extend and improve ...

Cancer Patients and Survivors Urge Legislators to Make Biomarker Access a Priority, Eliminate Flavored Tobacco Sales

... Washington gathered at the Capitol building Monday to ask legislators to support House Bill 1062, which would expand insurance coverage of biomarker testing, making sure as many state residents as possible have access to this technology.  Biomarker testing is about identifying the most effective treatment for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. It can open the door to precision treatments that can improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with many diseases and conditions. Similar legislation has passed in 20 states including California, Texas, Georgia and ...

More Californians with Cancer, Other Chronic Diseases, Get Access to Game-Changing Testing

Sacramento , Calif. – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the state budget on June 29, allowing for Medi-Cal implementation of Senate Bill 496. Starting July 1st, Medi-Cal and other state-regulated health insurance plans will cover comprehensive  biomarker testing ... Testing for specific biomarkers – such as gene mutations – found in blood, tissues or other biospecimens provides crucial information that can help determine the most effective treatment for a particular patient, including precision medicine and targeted therapies. “Nearly 60% of all cancer drugs approved in the last five years require or recommend biomarker testing before use. Improving coverage for biomarker testing ...

Rhode Island Senate Votes to Remove Barriers to Biomarker Testing

... right patient, at the right time,’ precision medicine has played a critical role in improving cancer outcomes – biomarker testing being one of the ways we can achieve these outcomes by allowing doctors to understand and target unique markers in a patient’s cancer cells. Despite its benefits, access to biomarker testing has not kept pace with the rate of innovation due in part to lack of coverage by private health insurance and Medicaid for needed testing. Senate Bill 2201 aims to enable more ...

PA House Insurance Committee Votes to Remove Barriers to Biomarker Testing

Today, the House Insurance Committee voted to improve Pennsylvanians’ access to biomarker testing, advancing House Bill 1754 out of committee unanimously. Championed by Representatives Kyle Mullins and Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, the proposal would ensure biomarker testing ... Senate. The following is a statement from Donna Greco, Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Pennsylvania: "Biomarker testing and precision medicine are helping extend and improve lives by tailoring care and treatment to a person’s individual condition. Over the past few months, we have heard countless stories of the difficulties and inconsistencies patients face in attempting to access this important testing. It’s time for that to change. "This ...

Three-time Cancer Survivor Urges Lawmakers to Expand Access to Biomarker Testing

Link to video and interview SANTA FE – February 8, 2023 - The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) hosted a ‘Cancer Action Day’ at the state capitol in conjunction with the New Mexico Allied Council on Tobacco (NMACT), today. Joyce ... is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in biomarker testing and treatment. This leaves some patients with the decision of paying for these tests out-of-pocket or going without this information. As a result, not all communities are benefitting from the latest advancements in biomarker testing and ...

Legislation Aimed at Improving Health Outcomes for New Yorkers Heads to Governor Hochul’s Desk

... / Assembly Bill 1673a to the Governor’s desk, giving her 10 days to take action on the legislation. Their proposal aims to ensure millions of New Yorkers can access precision care by requiring all state-regulated health plans to cover comprehensive biomarker testing. Biomarker testing opens the door to treatments that can lead to fewer side effects, improved survival, better quality of life and potentially lower costs for patients.  Advocates are hopeful that Governor Hochul will sign the legislation without any amendments to ...

Advocates Call on Washington Lawmakers to Prioritize Expanding Access to Biomarker Testing

... biomarker testing. Biomarker testing is about identifying the most effective treatment for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. It can open the door to precision treatments that can improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with many diseases and conditions. Similar legislation has passed in 20 states including California, Texas, Georgia and New ... costs and avoiding potentially life-altering side effects.  It’s notable that biomarker testing is increasingly important to the treatment of conditions outside of the cancer space, like arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, organ and tissue transplant, and rare diseases. Research ...

New York State Senate Votes to Remove Barriers to Biomarker Testing

... Medicaid, when patients need it. This legislative victory came several hours after the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) hosted cancer patients and survivors at the Capitol to honor National Cancer Survivors Day.   Biomarker testing has revolutionized cancer treatment over the last few decades and is increasingly important in the treatment of other conditions, providing access to targeted treatment and tailoring care to a person’s individual disease. Targeted therapies often result in improved quality of life and survivorship. For example, patients with certain lung cancer types who received biomarker testing and then a targeted therapy saw a 31% ...

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