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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Protecting Funding for Cancer Prevention
ACS CAN was back walking the halls of Congress to protect an important health program. Along with representatives from 40 organizations, ACS CAN met with more than 70 U.S. Representatives and Senators to discuss the importance of prevention in the fight against cancer. We made sure that officials knew that through proven ways to prevent cancer and detect it early, we can ...
Senate health care bill could harm cancer patients and survivors
We knew the Senate health care bill was bad for cancer patients and survivors, but the latest version of the bill released is shockingly worse than earlier drafts. The bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, could be devastating to cancer patients ... raise premiums for some people with pre-existing conditions Under an amendment introduced by Senator Ted Cruz and included in the newest version of the bill, plans that don’t meet requirements in the Affordable Care Act would be sold, meaning some plans offered would not cover needed ... younger, healthier people in those insurance markets, the premiums for people with pre-existing conditions could be astonishingly high. ACS CAN joined other patient advocacy groups in sending a letter to senators expressing their deep concern for this amendment. Re-impose annual and ...
Key Healthcare Provisions Go Into Effect Today That Help Cancer Patients
Strong protections for cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones take affect today, six months after the signing of the Affordable Care Act into law. These critical provisions are helping to transform our current
sick care' system into one that focuses ... coverage Tightly restricted annual dollar limits on coverage In all new plans, preventive coverage is guaranteed and individuals will see no out-of-pocket costs for proven preventive services such as screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer Health plans can no longer drop patients from coverage when they get sick Dependent children can remain on their parent's insurance policy until age 26 Children ...
Patient and Consumer Groups Urge Federal Court to Issue Preliminary Injunction Against Short-Term Insurance Rule
... limited-duration (STLD) insurance plans. The hearing in the case Association for Community Affiliated Plans v. United States Department of Treasury will allow the plaintiffs to explain the devastating impact patients could face under the rule if bare-bones plans that do not comply ... required by the Affordable Care Act are permitted to be sold on the individual insurance market for up to 36 months. These short-term plans can deny or charge people more for coverage based on their health status, and are exempt from covering essential health services. The plans can ... treatment and follow-up care. The very population the law is designed to protect could again face barriers to quality health coverage at a cost they can afford - a common occurrence before the law was passed that kept many patients from getting critical care. “The evidence is clear ...
Renewed Commitment to Defeat Cancer
... Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, which included great strides in the fight to fund cancer research and prevention programs. Passage of this legislation will ensure that lifesaving cancer research will continue to support the development of new tools for early detection and ... this lifesaving legislation into law," says John R. Seffrin, Ph.D, CEO, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "Only with proper funding can the NIH, NCI, NCHMD, and the CDC conduct their important work to conquer a disease that will kill an estimated 560,000 Americans and cost the economy more than $228 billion this year." While this is a remarkable step to close out 2009, ACS CAN will continue to advocate for ...
President's Budget Calls for Increase in National Tobacco Tax
... a pre-k program for children. The President's 2014 budget proposal would increase the national tax on cigarettes to $1.95 per pack, an increase of 94 cents. It also increases the tax on cigars, smokeless tobacco and other tobacco products. Scientific studies have proven that a significant price increase is one of the most effective ways to prevent children from starting to smoke. A 10 percent increase in the cost of a pack of cigarettes leads to a seven percent decline in smoking rates for children and a four percent decline in overall cigarette ... consumption. In addition, most analyses indicate that nearly 90 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before they turn age 18. So, if we can prevent people from becoming addicted while they're young, it's highly likely they'll never start smoking at all. ACS CAN and our volunteers ...