Site Search
Search Results
Over 100 Patient Groups Join to Raise Alarm Over Proposed Insurance Rule
Washington, D.C.—April 23, 2018—More than 100 organizations representing millions of patients, providers and consumers joined together in letters and formal comments to Congressional leadership and federal agencies urging the withdrawal of a proposed rule on short-term, limited duration insurance plans (STLD). The groups warn that the proposed rule would likely divide the ... Public comments on the rule are due to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury and Labor today. The joint comment letter can be viewed here . The letter to the Secretaries of HHS, Treasury and Labor can be viewed here . The letter to Congressional Leaders can be ...
Oklahoma Becomes 37th State to Increase Access to Health Coverage Through Medicaid
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahomans approval of Medicaid expansion will improve health outcomes and reduce cancer disparities for 2 00,000 citizens now eligible for health care coverage. On Tuesday, a majority of voters responded "yes" to Question 802, which asked if Medicaid should be fully expand ed to low-income adults earning less than ... permitted under the federal health law . The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) president. “T his victory is an incredible development for public health in Oklahoma , which currently has the second-highest ...
New Kansas Smoke-Free Law is Major Public Health Victory
... is the 23rd state to pass strong smoke-free legislation that requires 100 percent smoke-free non-hospitality workplaces, bars and restaurants. Of those 23, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, and now Kansas, are awaiting implementation. This is a major public health victory for the people of Kansas, said John R. Seffrin, PhD, CEO, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Smoke-free laws benefit everyone -- workers can make a living without risking their health, patrons and tourists can enjoy time out ...
New Medicare Report
ACS CAN recently released a new report, Cancer and Medicare: A Chartbook . This new resource highlights Medicare information through charts to provide an overview of cancer among the elderly. The chartbook shows how many elderly are getting cancer and dying from the disease, how many are using cancer ... Medicare program as they work on health care reform. Here are some highlights from the new chartbook: o The elderly represent only 13 percent of the population but make up about half of new cancer cases. o Medicare pays for a major share of all costs for cancer and almost one of every ten ...
House Votes on Legislative Package to Improve Access to Affordable Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a legislative package containing provisions aimed at improving access to affordable health care, ... The package would also rescind the rule that extends the availability of short-term, limited duration insurance plans (STLD). These plans can deny or charge people more for coverage based on their health status, are exempt from covering essential health services, and can charge older ... misleading marketing tactics. The report’s findings mirror similar results from an ACS CAN report issued last year that showed STLD plans can cost cancer patients up to five times as much in out-of-pocket costs as a comprehensive plan. A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the ...
House Committee Focuses on Public Health with Increased Tobacco Tax, Greater Access to Affordable Health Care
... in states that have not expanded Medicaid, make permanent increased tax credits for marketplace coverage, and cap Medicare enrollees’ out-of-pocket drug costs. A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: “This bill is a great step toward improving our nation’s public health and reducing our cancer burden. Increasing tobacco taxes ...
Proposed Short-Term Health Plan Rule Would Weaken Patient Protections and Split Insurance Market
Washington, D.C.— Today the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on proposed changes to rules governing short-term, limited duration ... plans are only available for up to 3 months, and are intended to fill brief gaps in coverage. The proposed rule would extend the availability of these plans up to 364 days and provide an option for indefinite renewal – allowing them to function like permanent health insurance without ...
Administration’s Budget Risks Reversing Progress Against Cancer
... research essential to preventing, detecting and treating cancer. The budget cuts funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $3 billion, including a nearly $500 million cut for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and reduces cancer prevention programs ... Department of Health and Human Services. A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: Access to Care “If implemented, the administration’s budget would leave millions more Americans unable to access ... relief for seniors by capping out-of-pocket prescription costs for those on Medicare Part D and allowing some low-income enrollees to be spared cost-sharing on generic drugs. These would be welcome changes and could help enrollees better afford their care. Research “The proposed cuts ...
Texas Chemotherapy Bill Signed into Law
This past Saturday, Governor Rick Perry of Texasξsigned into law House Bill 438 that requires oral chemo to be covered in the same way that intravenous chemo is covered. Cancer ... that they had good health insurance, but because oral chemotherapy was the only treatment for them and they could not afford the out-of-pocket cost, they were not receiving treatment at all. In addition to the financial burden and concern about the most effective treatment, some cancer patients were traveling hours to treatment centers to receive IV therapy when an oral chemo more targeted to their cancer can be taken in the comfort of their own home.ξThe law will beξeffective on September 1, 2011.ξ Congratulations, Texas! Texas Chemotherapy ...
This is what makes a plan affordable
You're hearing a lot of talk about making health care AFFORDABLE. So, what does "affordable" really mean? ACS CAN has outlined five key tenets to determine if legislation would make health care affordable for all Americans.ξ Legislation should include: oξξξ Caps on patientsÈ out of pocket expenses oξξξ An end to arbitrary annual and lifetime caps on benefits oξξξ Reasonable premium costs and subsidies for ...