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‘Cancer Action Day’ Brings Cancer Survivors to Harrisburg, Advocates Urge State & Federal Lawmakers to Preserve Access to Care
... at the state Capitol yesterday for ‘Cancer Action Day,’ an event hosted annually by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Advocates met with their state lawmakers and urged them to support policies that aid in the fight against cancer. “Cancer Action Day is a ... all Pennsylvanians. Our message to lawmakers today is – you play a crucial role in that fight.” While the ACS CAN volunteers spent much of Cancer Action Day at the Capitol connecting with state lawmakers, a cohort of survivors and advocates took the opportunity to visit Senator ... but too few Pennsylvanians who are eligible for screening actually receive it. Research shows us a main driver in delaying screenings is cost barriers. Even a relatively small amount can keep individuals from getting their recommended screenings and when it comes to prostate cancer, ...
COVID19: Patient advocates speak out against increasingly restrictive health insurance processes amid pandemic
... issue goes much deeper than our present environment. Prior authorization and step therapy are often applied to patients living with a wide range of diseases and chronic conditions, like, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. A practice that started as ... to the drug, test, or treatment option that was recommended by their physician. “We must consider long term solutions for the delays that can be caused by prior authorization and step therapy, not just a temporary fix. If these practices can be curbed for COVID-19, they should be ... are already fighting for our lives. We cannot afford to wait on insurers to approve tests or treatments ordered by doctors. Those delays can cost us precious, life-saving time.” According to a recent survey of physicians by the American Medical Association, the negative impact of ...
Lawmakers Rally with Patient Advocates to Improve Access to Biomarker Testing, Highlight Personal Connections to Disease
HARRISBURG, PA – November 14, 2023 – Earlier today, the legislative sponsors of Senate Bill 954 and House Bill 1754 joined patient advocates, cancer survivors and medical leaders at the state Capitol and urged their ... testing. Biomarker testing has become a game-changing part of patient care given its role in opening the door to targeted treatments that can lead to improved survivorship and quality of life. Senate Bill 954 and House Bill 1754 represent a bipartisan proposal to ensure comprehensive ... of cancer or other serious illness.” The statement continues, “Sadly, access to testing has been limited by an all-too-common barrier: cost. By requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of biomarker testing, this bill would open doors to precision medicine that otherwise ...
Philadelphia Tobacco Tax Increase Will Save Lives, Protect Kids
Philadelphia Tobacco Tax Increase Will Save Lives, Protect Kids Governor Corbett Signs Bill Passing $2 Per Pack Cigarette Tax ACS CAN Commends Legislature and Governor; Offers Resources to Help Quit September 24, 2014 – Governor Tom Corbett took a major step to save lives ... adult smokers and 1,000 to 2,000 fewer youth smokers. “Each year 2,100 Philadelphians die due to their tobacco use. This is nearly 16 percent of all deaths in the city. That loss of life is tragic – and it’s preventable,” said Phillips. “I applaud the General Assembly for working ... is estimated that the tax will result in $28 million in yearly productivity gains. Combined with an estimated $48 million in annual health care cost savings from the cigarette tax, the increase will have a tremendous positive impact on both the state budget and health care consumers in ...
Patient advocates & public health leaders rally around proposed investment to alleviate medical debt in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, PA – March 6, 2024 – As state lawmakers consider proposals that aim to reduce the financial impact of disease on patients and families, a new study from the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows that medical debt is associated with worse health ... status, more premature deaths and higher mortality rates. Researchers with the ACS have found that medical debt was associated with more days of poor physical and mental health, more years of life lost and higher mortality rates for all-cause and leading causes of death at the county ... food on the table for their families,” said Donna Greco, Government Relations Director for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Pennsylvania. “Medical debt is bad for patients’ health, and is the leading policy priority for cancer patients and survivors . The ...
Coalition Members Mark Great American Smokeout
... Strong Tobacco Control Legislation Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – November 20, 2014 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is celebrating the American Cancer Society’s 39 th annual Great American Smokeout today by calling on Pennsylvania’s lawmakers and governor to protect the health of Pennsylvania’s residents by significantly raising the state’s cigarette tax, establishing a tax on other tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco and invest in tobacco use prevention and cessation programs. Currently, ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, in Pennsylvania is working with its Breathe Free Pennsylvania coalition partners to strengthen Pennsylvania’s ...
Cancer-Fighting Advocates Mark Great American Smokeout by Calling for Action to Prevent Tobacco Addiction
... to support funding for Pennsylvania’s Tobacco Control Programs in the new budget. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) says it is crucial, that our legislature secure $14.7 million to continue to fund this program that helps non -smokers never start and helps ... high school and adult smoking rates are above the national average! ACS CAN says our state leaders must do all they can to protect the health of state residents by passing strong tobacco control legislation. As our battle with COVID-19 continues, we must do everything in our power to ... safe—which means building strong public health infrastructure including comprehensive tobacco control measures. As the advocacy affiliate of ACS, the ACS CAN, supports evidence-based strategies proven to reduce tobacco use including comprehensive smoke-free laws, regular and ...
Coalition Tells Lawmakers To Unite Behind Strong Public Health Policies
... To Unite Behind Strong Public Health Policies Harrisburg, PA – July 8, 2016 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), American Heart Association (AHA) and American Lung Association (ALA) today called on lawmakers to unite behind strong policies that will protect the health of Pennsylvanians and reduce the costly toll tobacco has on people and the economy. The coalition is supportive of legislation that will significantly increase the tax on cigarettes by at least $1.00 per pack and establish a tax on all other tobacco products ...
Legislation Introduced to Increase Pennsylvanians’ Access to Biomarker Testing, the Key to Precision Medicine
... Mullins introduced House Bill 1754 to increase Pennsylvanians’ access to biomarker testing, following Sen. Devlin Robinson’s introduction of a companion bill, Senate Bill 954, in the Senate last week. A game-changing part of cancer care, biomarker testing opens the door to targeted therapy and personalized medicine which can improve patient survivorship and quality of life. This is a priority bill for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). ... do not cover the most appropriate biomarker testing. This results in some patients being forced to decide whether to pay out-of-pocket—a cost many cannot realistically afford--or go without the testing and hope the first treatment prescribed is the right one. Not all communities are ...
Expand Access to Biomarker Testing in Pennsylvania
Welcome! Biomarker testing helps connect patients with the right treatment at the right time. ACS CAN and 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, disease or abnormal function that can be measured in blood, tissue or bodily fluid. Biomarker testing is the analysis of a patient’s tissue, blood or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker. Hear from Lisa about how biomarker testing put her on the path ...
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