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June 2017 State Update

... Senate.  The Senate version has 15 Representative co-sponsors and 10 Senate co-sponsors, and has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health.  At the close of the deadline for Representatives to officially co-sponsor the House bill, we had 95 out of 160 House members co-sponsor the bill.   9 Senate members also signed onto the House bill.  On May 16 th , the Joint Committee on Public Health held a public hearing on the bill, where ACS CAN had 4 volunteers testify as part of our work with the Tobacco Free Mass coalition.  ACS ... or via phone at 508-270-4683. Transparency in Prescription Drug Formularies: As consumers are asked to be more savvy health care shoppers, they can only do so with accurate information.  While the cost of a drug varies significantly depending on the source, consumers ...

New Medicare Drug Rule Could Leave Patients Unable to Access Needed Medications

... declined to pay for these drugs.      “The countries included through the Most Favored Nation policy have significant differences in their health systems and supply chains and the policy does not appear to take these differences into account. Imposing such significant ... changes—especially in such a short timeframe—could mean some cancer medications are not available, and patients are unable to get essential care. It is also unclear if these changes would save only some patients money or result in cost shifting onto patients with private insurance.    ...

Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Pennsylvania

... partners are working together to make sure more Pennsylvanians can benefit from this important testing.   What is Biomarker Testing? In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient . A “ biomarker ” is a sign of a normal biological process, ... that have been excluded, including communities of color, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, rural communities, and those receiving care in non-academic medical centers are less likely to receive biomarker testing. Improving coverage for and access to biomarker testing across insurance types is key to reducing health disparities. Insurance coverage for biomarker testing is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatment. Without action ...

Lawmakers Take Critical Step to Revolutionize Cancer Treatment in North Carolina

... the legislation would allow more North Carolinians to access biomarker testing, which has become an increasingly important part of cancer care. Patients who are diagnosed with certain types of cancer can receive biomarker testing to help providers determine the most effective form of ... testing can help save critical time in a cancer fight. This form of precision medicine has become widely used and relied upon in cancer care in recent years, and it’s increasingly important for other disease areas as well. Unfortunately, some people are not benefiting from the ... aligning coverage for biomarker testing with the latest science, we can help increase access to precision medicine that can save lives, improve health outcomes and potentially reduce costs ,” said John Broome , government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action ...

Rally for Medicaid Expansion

... all across the Commonwealth at a rally in support of expanding Medicaid on Thursday, March 1.   Real progress is being made towards expanding health care coverage to low-income Virginians who fall into the "coverage gap." During the next two weeks, state legislators will be working to come up ...

Missouri Legislature Ignoring the Will of Missouri Voters

... Tonight, the Missouri Senate voted out the 2022 fiscal year operating budget. The budget proposal does not include specific funding to provide health insurance coverage for the expansion of MO Healthnet, Missouri’s Medicaid program. Emily Kalmer, director of government relations in ... Senate ignoring the will of Missouri voters. Last August, voters approved Amendment 2, which would expand access to comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage, through the MO Healthnet program, for an estimated 275,000 low-income Missourians. “We know the health insurance ... affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and made workplaces, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free. As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re more determined than ever to ...

Cancer Advocates Urge Court to Protect Patients from Surprise Billing

... D.C.— January 3, 2023 — Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit will hear oral arguments in the case of Haller v. Health and Human Services (HHS) and decide whether or not to uphold the U.S. District Court’s ruling preserving the No Surprises Act (NSA), ... for patients. Prior to this law, too many people with cancer received surprise bills that financially burdened their families and led to worse health outcomes and higher mortality rates, according to ACS research.   “Cancer patients are especially apt to encounter these kinds of bills ... in the U.S. expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year alone, it’s critical we uphold protections like the NSA that aim to make health care more affordable and give more people a fighting chance at survival.  “No one should have to struggle to pay basic bills, deplete their ...

Deficit Reduction Plan Should Not Compromise National Fight Against Cancer

... of additional funds would have a further devastating impact on this work, cutting as much as $2.5 billion more from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including more than $450 million from cancer research specifically. The letter also stresses the importance of maintaining benefits under Medicare and Medicaid, which are often the only options for health care coverage for many cancer patients. ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports ...

Letter to the editor: With the election over, let’s focus on beating cancer

... There is much we can do to help reduce these unfortunate and clearly preventable deaths. We have to ask our legislators to increase access to health care by expanding Medicaid, and to take other steps to increase the number of people in the state with health insurance. We also have to make sure that Medicaid and other forms of health insurance cover all smoking cessation aids such as nicotine ...

Resolution Would Halt Short-Term Insurance Changes and Preserve Patient Protections

... has introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act that would prevent the extension and expansion of short-term limited duration health insurance plans (STLD) as allowed under a new rule from the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury. The rule, which was finalized August 1, allows insurers to issue – for up to 36 months – ... Network (ACS CAN) follows: “Senator Baldwin’s effort today is another avenue by which lawmakers can and should take action to protect health care coverage for cancer patients, survivors and all those with serious medical conditions. “The final short-term health plan rule threatens to ...

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