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1-4-13 Affordable Care Act Update

... Update As noted in an earlier communication, Congress passed a measure on New Year's Day to temporarily avert the most immediate consequences of the so-called "fiscal cliff." We are pleased that federal funding for cancer research, cancer prevention and early detection programs, and key ... now, and we will work to ensure that the voices of people with cancer and their families are heard as the debate continues.   Policy Update ACS CAN Submits Comments on Two Major Proposed Regulations   ACS CAN submitted comment letters last month to the federal government on the proposed ... provisions of the ACA (i.e., the employer mandate). Under the law, employers with more than 50 full-time workers must contribute to the cost of "affordable" health insurance and cover at least 95 percent of their workers or be subject to penalties. The proposed regulation lays out ...

Letter To The Editor On Increasing Access To Colorectal Cancer Screening

Congress has an opportunity to stand up for seniors by closing the Medicare loophole that currently can put up a financial barrier to access lifesaving colonoscopies. While individuals on private health care plans have the procedure covered as a ... Medicare to be charged for their screening if a polyp is found and removed during the procedure. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined in the United States, yet it is preventable and curable with regular screening. In fact, if everyone over the age of 50 received recommended colon cancer screenings, we could prevent half of all colorectal cancer deaths.   That’s why I recently traveled to ...

North Carolina Cancer Survivors Mark Great American Smokeout by Calling for Strong Tobacco Control Legislation

... survivors marked the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) 43 rd annual Great American Smokeout today by calling on lawmakers to protect the health of North Carolina residents by passing strong tobacco control legislation. Only by tackling tobacco use through a comprehensive approach can we effectively overcome the country’s tobacco epidemic and prevent the more than 480,000 deaths each year caused by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.   The advocacy affiliate of ACS, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), supports evidence-based strategies proven to reduce tobacco use including ...

2026 South Carolina Legislative Priorities

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of South Carolinians impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2026 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the SC General Assembly on legislative and regulatory efforts that provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance ... plans. We will advocate for policies that ensure third party prescription drug copay assistance is counted toward patients’ out-of-pocket cost obligations. Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding of $1 million for The ...

Legislation to Increase Access to Biomarker Testing Receives Favorable Committee Report

... - Today, the Joint Committee on Financial Services reported legislation to expand access to guideline indicated biomarker testing, favorably out of committee. The bills, S.689 and H.1074,  An Act relative to patient access to biomarker testing to provide appropriate therapy , sponsored by ... Susan Moran and Representative Meg Kilcoyne, would increase access to biomarker testing for Massachusetts patients who need it, ensuring they can receive the right treatment at the right time for their disease. The following can be attributed to Marc Hymovitz, Massachusetts director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): “This favorable report is a great first step towards ...

Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Boost Tobacco Prevention Funding and Pass Legislation to Expand Access to Care

LANSING, MI – “As the 2025 legislative session gets underway, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize improving access to cancer care and increasing funding for tobacco control programs to ease the burden of cancer in Michigan.  “As lawmakers consider Michigan’s budget this legislative session, ACS CAN urges the legislature to increase funding ... by $5 million to bring funding for tobacco prevention and programs that help those already addicted quit to $9.6 million. With nearly 32% of cancer deaths in the state being attributable to smoking, a well-funded, fact-based program to help people quit tobacco is needed to reduce the ...

Preserve Medicaid Patient Access To Biomarker Testing

... proposal to roll back important Medicaid coverage for biomarker testing.  State lawmakers must reject Governor Hochul’s proposed rollback of biomarker testing access for Medicaid patients. Biomarker testing saves lives and reduces long-term health care spending. The 2023 law, passed ... jeopardizing coverage for millions. This proposal is short-sighted for the budget and will result in worse health outcomes.  Please join ACS CAN in calling on state lawmakers to preserve Medicaid patients’ access to biomarker testing.   Background Research shows that ... biomarker testing for all patients who need it. This is a shortsighted effort to save money that hurts patients – and could potentially cost Medicaid more. As the state grapples with federal funding cuts, it is more important than ever to spend Medicaid dollars efficiently – and ...

Administration Rescinds Medicare Rule That Risked Limiting Patient Access to Cancer Drugs

Washington, D.C.— Late last week the administration rescinded a proposed rule that would have tied the price of select Medicare Part B drugs to that of foreign countries. Of the 50 drugs selected for participation under the Most Favored Nation rule, 35 would have been cancer drugs. A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) follows: “We’re pleased that the Biden administration has rescinded this rule. While the rule’s stated intent was to reduce the price of ...

2026 Legislative Priorities

... Legislative Priorities Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Alabamians impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease.   In 2026 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the Alabama legislature on legislative and regulatory efforts that provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance ... prostate cancer screening by requiring health insurance coverage for evidence-based prostate cancer preven ta tive care and screenings, without cost sharing. Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding of $600,000 for the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early ...

Backwards Budget Bill Would Send Progress Up in Smoke

Statement from Donald Distasio, CEO, American Cancer Society of NY & NJ, Regarding Possible Elimination of NYS Tobacco Control Program in Assembly budget bill "This has got to be a mistake.  How else can you explain something so short sighted and wrong headed? New York lawmakers should know better. The state's Tobacco Control Program works, and ...

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