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Congress Misses Critical Opportunity to Prioritize Cancer Prevention and Access to Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  This week, Congress failed to advance a bipartisan year-end health care package that would have made a big difference in the fight against cancer. The bill included language based on the Nancy Gardner Sewell ... president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) reacting to Congress’ inability to pass a bipartisan year-end health care package:     “This week, Congress missed a tremendous opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of cancer ...

Focusing on the Patient: Palliative Care Improves Quality of Life

... patients and their loved ones want to be able to live well with their cancer Š—– whether that life lasts weeks, months, or years. Palliative care is the medical specialty that can help. It focuses on improving quality of life for patients with serious illness and for their families through: Îà Pain and symptom management; Îà Communication and support to help patients and families make decisions about care and treatments; Îà Assistance for making transitions between care settings, such as hospital discharge and chronic care planning. People ... Palliative care also provides care for families and caregivers all the way through the patientŠ—Ès life. As the leading patient voice in the health care reform debate, ACS CAN is working to advance understanding about the importance of palliative care as an option to help drive ...

House Proposal Flat Funds Cancer Research and Compromises Access to Care

... programs at the NIH and CDC passed a budget proposal that flat lines cancer research and defunds important programs that would improve access to care for families affected by cancer. Needless to say, this is a huge disappointment for cancer patients across the country. The importance of the ... to help set up marketplaces where people can shop and compare options for quality coverage and stripping funding for the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is refocusing the nation on staying well rather than waiting to treat people until they are sick. Ultimately, this proposal could increase the number of cancer patients and survivors who postpone or skip lifesaving treatment because they donŠ—'t have health coverage. Next, this proposal will head to the full House Committee on Appropriations for markup. On behalf of the 13.7 million cancer ...

Families Affected by Cancer Urging Lawmakers to Seize Historic Opportunity to Improve the Health of All Americans

... – January 26, 2010 – Cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones are calling on lawmakers to redouble their efforts and take action on health care reform now, not later.  To that end, the volunteer board of the American Cancer Society passed a resolution over the weekend calling on the President and all Members of Congress to work together to quickly pass legislation that improves access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. “Lawmakers must show leadership by putting patients before politics and finishing the job they set out to do,” ...

Public Health Wins at the Polls in California and South Dakota

... to expand Medicaid eligibility to adults with lower incomes. In California voters upheld the 2020 law that will reduce tobacco use and health disparities caused by the tobacco industry’s targeting of Black communities. The following is a statement from Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO ... and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): “Voters in South Dakota and California made it clear on Tuesday that public health is a priority in their states. By passing measures to increase access to health coverage through Medicaid and reduce the deadly toll of ... their loved ones who will newly gain access to lifesaving health insurance coverage. ACS research repeatedly shows the importance of access to care in reducing health disparities and improving cancer outcomes. ACS CAN volunteers and staff worked tirelessly to educate the public on the ...

Spikes in Cost Increase the Burden of Affording Cancer Care

    The Problem Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their ... she experiences a spike in cost of over $8,000 in the first two months of each year. While she may be able to afford to spend this much on her care spread over the whole year, it is just too much to pay all at once. All the while, her other bills don’t stop, and she’s trying to manage ...

Proposed Marketplace Health Insurance Changes Could Lead to Renewed Barriers for Cancer Patients and Survivors

... February 15, 2017 —Today the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule changing regulations for Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance plans. Of particular concern to those affected by cancer are proposed changes to special enrollment periods and ... (SEPs) and essential community provider requirements could cause problems for cancer patients and their families who want and need to enroll in health insurance that is adequate to cover recommended prevention, treatment and follow-up care. “Cancer patients often experience a change in ... due to being too sick to work or relocate to be closer to caregivers or specialized cancer centers, these patients need to be able to enroll in health insurance quickly and without gaps in coverage. The proposed SEP enrollment changes would require documentation that is often challenging to ...

New Report: Raising Cigarette Taxes Across the South Offers Relief for Regional Budget and Health Problems

... by $1 per pack would help ease the economic crisis that weighs heavily on the region and its hard-working families, and would also improve the health of its residents, according to a report released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and Community Catalyst. The report, “Big Benefits from $1: Raising Cigarette Taxes in the South to Boost Health and the Economy,” is supplemented by a new Web-based interactive tool that details state-by-state benefits of a $1 tax increase. ... If used to fund health insurance through state Medicaid programs, the money would ensure that hundreds of thousands of families get the health care they need and would help secure as much as $35 billion in matching federal funds for the South in the first two years. “Medicaid funding ...

Iowa Legislators’ Medicaid Cuts Threaten Cancer Care for 180,000 Iowans

... crisis. Iowa Medicaid serves as a lifeline for many workers, veterans, and our rural hospitals. Cutting Medicaid expansion puts the critical health care for 180,000 Iowans at risk. Iowa lawmakers must do better.”  0 Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Iowa Government Relations Director, Jackie Cale Iowa Legislators’ Medicaid Cuts Threaten Cancer Care for 180,000 Iowans ...

Kansas Governor’s Veto of Short-Term Health Plans Bill Protects Patients from Extreme Costs

Topeka, Kan. – Today, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 29, which would have exposed more Kansans to inadequate health plans that can avoid patient protections required by federal law. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart ... their pre-existing conditions. Additionally, STLDPs do not cap out-of-pocket expenses, can have higher deductibles and may not cover essential health benefits such as prescription medication and maternity care. The following are statements from the patient advocacy groups applauding the governor’s decision to veto legislation that would make it ...

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