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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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Cancer Patients in Medicare Could Face Cost and Care Barriers Under Proposal to Alter ‘Six Protected Classes’

WASHINGTON –  The Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed changes to the Medicare Part C and D regulations today that if finalized could dramatically impact ... on the program. The administration is proposing to alter rules around Medicare Part D’s “Six Protected Classes.” The proposals could have cost, care and safety implications. A statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) President Chris Hansen follows: “While we support the administration’s intent to improve drug affordability, the proposed changes could ...

ACS CAN Letter: Drug Pricing Policy Should Prioritize Patient Affordability

Washington, D.C.—July 16, 2018—Today the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding proposals to reduce prescription drug costs outlined in the ... for Information (RFI) regarding its Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs (blueprint). A number of the proposals explore cost-cutting measures in the Medicare program. These proposals include altering rules around Medicare Part D’s “six protected classes,” ...

ACS CAN calls on legislative leaders to include colorectal cancer screening in state budget

ALBANY, NY – A coalition of more than 65 patient and provider groups, cancer centers, and other public health organizations delivered a letter to state legislative leaders ... in support of legislation that would require insurance plans to cover colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45 and eliminate all patient cost-sharing for a follow up colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death for men and women in New York. In 2022, an ... as the next step in the preventive screening process and therefore should be covered by health insurers with no patient out-of-pocket cost. ACS CAN is calling on state leaders to include S906-B sponsored by Senators Sanders and Kennedy and A2085-A sponsored by Assemblymember Dinowitz—the ...

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