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6-23-11 Affordable Care Act Update
... consumers. This week the Administration released an amendment to its previous regulation on external appeals. The good news is that as a result of the regulation, virtually all people enrolled in private insurance, including ERISA self-insured plans, have the right to appeal, and the ... that were in existence before March 23, 2010 -– so called “grandfathered plans” -- and they remain largely unchanged in their benefits and cost-sharing.) Unfortunately, the regulation let consumers down, especially cancer patients who need to have disputes resolved quickly and fairly. Most notably, the scope of what can be appealed is limited to issues of "medical judgment.” While medical judgment encompasses many possible disputes, the requirement fails ...
1-31-13 Affordable Care Act Update
... Medicare and Medicaid eligibility and benefits. Because Medicare and Medicaid are critical programs for patients with chronic diseases, ACS CAN is partnering with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association to include the patient voice in the debate. The attached fact sheets have been developed that can be used to help explain the importance of the Medicare and Medicaid programs to patients with chronic disease. Medicaid~0117.pdf Medicare Fact Sheet~Rev0113.pdf FDA Committee Votes ... and Texas - states that have been wrestling with the decision of whether to accept federal dollars that have been set aside to finance the cost of providing health care coverage to up to 16 million hard working, low-income individuals nationwide. ACS CAN also briefed ACS CAN field ...
ACS Advocates Lobby for Health Care Reform
Hundreds of Cancer Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Pass Health Care Now, Not Later More than 400 cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and their families from all 50 states and nearly every Congressional district united on Tuesday to lobby their members of Congress in support of comprehensive health care reform. ACS CAN hosted its annual leadership summit and lobby day this week in Washington, D.C. to urge lawmakers to focus on patients, not politics, by ...
12-14-12 Affordable Care Act Update
... the past few weeks communicating their positions on important issues, including raising tax rates for high income earners, allowing an extension of the Bush era tax rates for families earning less than $250,000 annually and proposed funding cuts in federal health programs such as Medicare ... so called "fiscal cliff". It is possible that Members may be required to stay in town during the holidays until a final deal is struck. ACS CAN sent a letter to President Obama and Congressional leaders in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate to protect the fight ... study also found that annual deductibles more than doubled during the same period. In short, the analysis shows that rising premiums and higher cost sharing continue to strain the budgets of middle- and low-income families. If current trends continue, the average premium for family coverage ...
5-19-11 Affordable Care Act Update
Federal Update Prevention The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made $100 million available from the Prevention and Public Health Fund for up to 75 Community Transformation ... have incorrectly concluded that Medicaid offers substandard care because of evidence showing that survival rates for cancer patients in Medicaid can be poorer than for those outside the program. This conclusion is seriously misleading. What is often not reported is that cancer patients more ... responsibility or coverage when the exchanges go into effect. The brief describes four policy challenges related to such changes in coverage and cost: Adjusting premium and cost-sharing subsidies when incomes change; Coordinating eligibility for premium credits, ...
Cancer Survivors Go To Montpelier for Cancer Action Day
David Cranmer of Shelburne was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 1999. "This is the first time that I've been able to talk about somebody about my cancer," Cranmer said. He says he felt alone during treatment. "Bone marrow transplants takes about a year to recover, and much of that year is spent in isolation because you have no immune system," Cranmer said. Cranmer ended up joining a group to talk to another survivor ... of life for cancer survivors. The Cancer Action Network’s Jill Sudhoff-Guerin says costs are a big issue for many Vermonters. "When people can't see what their prescription drug costs are then they're kind of going blindly into purchasing a plan," Sudhoff-Guerin said. She’s also ...
Governor Scott Proclaims March “Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month” In Vermont
MONTPELIER, VT – Mar. 12, 2019 – Tim Kavanagh of South Burlington is a colorectal cancer survivor. He is now committed to ensuring that others have the resources they need to prevent, diagnose, and cure a colorectal cancer diagnosis, advocating with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) on state and local policies to fight cancer. Kavanagh came one step closer to his goal today by working with Governor Phil Scott to officially ... the state’s Congressional delegation to support the Federal “Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act,” which would eliminate cost-sharing for Medicare recipients during a routine screening colonoscopy when a polyp is removed. “Recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer ...
6-30-11 Affordable Care Act Update
Litigation Update Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued the first appellate decision in litigation challenging the constitutionality of Affordable Care Act (ACA). The court upheld the law, reasoning that Congress had acted within its constitutional authority when it required ... to pay for food, shelter, transportation and health care when you need it. Unlike most of these expenses, however, the costs of health care can vary substantially from year to year. The individual can count on incurring some health costs...but cannot predict others (e.g. a cancer ...
9-29-11 Affordable Care Act Update
Federal Update Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced grants to fight chronic diseases, the leading cause of death in America, to states and communities ... activity. Grantees will receive a total of over $103 million to transform where their residents live, work, play, and go to school so that they can lead healthier, more productive lives. House Appropriations Committee Releases Draft FY12 Health Spending Bill Also of note today, the ... adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents' insurance policies and those requiring some insurance plans to cover preventive services at no cost to patients -- accounted for approximate 1 to 2 percent of this increase. Drew Altman , president and CEO of KFF, attributed the increase to ...
U.S. House Passes Health Care Reform Legislation!
In two historic votes, the U.S. House of Representatives tonight passed health care reform legislation that includes several provisions that meaningfully improve the health care system for cancer patients, survivors, and their families. Although the bill is not perfect, it meets the reform priorities of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network SM (ACS CAN) specifically to: 1. Increase the emphasis on disease prevention , such as by reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs for ...