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South Carolina Tobacco Tax Increase Is Major Public Health Victory

 Washington, D.C. – May 13, 2010 – “The South Carolina state legislature today took a major step to save lives and protect public health by overriding Governor Mark Sanford’s May 11 veto and passing a 50-cent tobacco tax increase. South Carolina has long held the rank of the ... at seven cents and had not passed an increase since 1977. Today’s historic victory is a testament to the decade-long persistence of public health advocates in South Carolina who made the case that raising tobacco taxes is a proven method to protect public health by reducing smoking and ... remains the nation’s number one cause of preventable death, killing more than 400,000 Americans and costing $96 billion in direct health care costs each year." ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and ...

Advocates to Congress: It’s Time to Pass Palliative Care Legislation

... to advance the interests of patients facing serious illness by supporting policies that improve and expand access to high-quality palliative care services. Palliative care provides patients with serious or chronic illnesses an additional layer of coordinated support through a team of specialized professionals, ultimately giving them more control in managing their disease and symptoms and leading to better health outcomes. More than 80 PQLC volunteers from 23 states and the District of Columbia will meet with their member of Congress today and ask for ... including symptom and pain management, and would establish palliative care education and training programs for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. It would also create a national public education and awareness campaign to educate patients and providers about the ...

CBO: Health Insurance Premiums Would Spike 20 Percent Next Year Without Critical Cost-Sharing Payments

Washington, D.C.—The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) today released its assessment of what would happen to health insurance premiums should the administration stop paying cost-sharing reductions (CSRs). The CBO projects the average monthly premiums would ... clear the real costs and consequences of failing to fund cost-sharing reductions that millions of Americans rely on in order to afford their health care coverage. “Ending these payments will do nothing to improve our nation’s health care system. Instead without the commitment of this ...

Patient Groups Urge Court to Reject Rule Weakening Health Insurance Standards

Washington, D.C.—Patient groups representing millions of people with serious health conditions are urging a U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to reject a federal rule expanding the availability of short-term ... limited-duration (STLD) insurance plans. The Court is scheduled to hear arguments today.   STLD plans are exempt from having to cover essential health benefits, like prescription drugs and hospitalization, and can deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.   The groups, which include the ... comprehensive coverage in violation of current law.   A statement from the groups follows:   “Rarely has the need for comprehensive health care coverage been clearer than it is today, yet the expansion of short-term limited-duration insurance plans threatens to erode patient access to ...

Public Health Groups Admonish Timing of Oklahoma’s Medicaid Expansion Waiver Proposal

... are alarmed that Gov. Kevin Stitt released his SoonerCare 2.0 waiver application while Oklahoma, and the world, grapples with a serious global health crisis. We urge the application be withdrawn immediately. “COVID-19 is a serious threat to Oklahoma’s public and economic health. Starting the 30-day public comment period on SoonerCare 2.0, which if implemented in its current form could trigger grave consequences for ... of public emergency — such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. “The waiver application would implement several measures that are barriers to care: cost-sharing provisions, an emergency room penalty fee and work requirements. Public health groups disagree with these waivers for good ...

Cancer Advocates Call on President Obama to Continue to Make Public Health a Top National Priority

... D.C. -- February 24, 2009 -- Cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones are calling on the President to continue to make access to quality health care and prevention a top national priority following recent passage of the stimulus bill. Cancer advocates will gather across the country tonight ... Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is organizing watch parties around the country to kick off its 2009 campaign to increase access to quality health care, grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products, and ...

Public Health Groups Urge Oklahomans to Vote ‘Yes’ on Question 802 on June 30

... “As our nation contends with the COVID-19 pandemic, incurring devastating human and economic losses, our organizations remain focused on health care solutions that will protect our most vulnerable populations. Untold insecurities weigh heavily on many Oklahomans, and on June 30, voters can ease some of that worry by voting ‘yes’ on State Question 802. “Voting ‘yes’ on State Question 802 will make health insurance through Medicaid accessible to more Oklahomans in the event they should need it – such as sudden loss of employment and, ...

New Billboard Calls Attention to Alabama’s Health Coverage Gap and Rural Hospital Closures

... (ACS CAN) unveiled a new billboard today near Jackson Hospital, calling attention to the critical need for Medicaid expansion to strengthen health care access and reinforce Alabama’s hospitals. The billboard features the message “Save Jackson Hospital. Expand Medicaid now.” alongside an image of an ambulance and highlights the urgent need to close Alabama’s health coverage gap to keep hospitals open. According to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, more than half of ...

Public Health Organizations: Legislature’s Final Budget A Missed Opportunity To Reduce Smoking, Save Lives

Frankfort, KY – April 2, 2018 – The following statement can be attributed to four leading health advocacy organizations: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the ... increase the cigarette tax by just 50-cents per pack, an amount that will have little to no impact in reducing smoking and improving public health. Small increases such as this are easily offset by tobacco industry price discounting and coupons intended to perpetuate tobacco-related ... that will essentially nullify the 50-cent increase. “Increasing the cigarette tax by a $1-per-pack would have saved lives, reduced health care costs and raised even more revenue. It would’ve helped 29,400 adult smokers quit and would’ve kept 23,200 kids from becoming smokers. ...

Louisiana Elected Officials Increase Access to Care for Cancer Patients

... Relations Director Kimberly Hughes Baton Rouge, LA –“The Louisiana legislature recently passed legislation that will improve access to care for cancer patients through co-pay accumulator legislation and the expansion of coverage for biomarker testing.  “Many cancer patients have ... critical role in improving cancer outcomes.  “ACS CAN also thanks the legislature for maintaining funding for the state’s Breast & Cervical Health Program and the state’s Tumor Registry. We are looking forward to seeing Gov. John Bel Edwards sign all of these pieces of legislation ... advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and made workplaces, including restaurants and bars, smoke-free. As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re more determined than ever to ...

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