2023 Virginia Session Summary
Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, expanded access to quality, affordable health care.
News
2016 Rhode Island Legislative Session Update
July 20, 2016
We were running on empty when our 2016 Legislative Session ended at 5:30 AM on Saturday, June 18th. However, with the help of our phenomenal volunteers, we were able to accomplish big wins for 2016.
Reducing the Toll of Tobacco
- Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: ACS CAN worked to protect funding of tobacco prevention and cessation programs at $397,908.
- Reducing Tobacco use through Taxation: ACS CAN led partner efforts with the Governor to urge that the proposal for a mere 25 cent tobacco tax increase be removed and replaced with a significant tax that would improve health for Ocean State residents with revenue dedicated back to tobacco control programs, cessation services, and enforcement. The governor attributed ACS CAN as one of the main factors to back off the 25 cent tobacco tax increase.
Healthy Eating and Active Living
- Healthy Eating: ACS CAN successfully passed "competitive foods" legislation to establish nutritional criteria for foods and beverages sold in school outside of the school meals program. "Competitive foods" includes, but is not limited to, vending machines, school stores, a la carte food sales and fundraisers held during the school day. This update was a big win to align Rhode Island with new federal nutritional requirements.
- Active Living: ACS CAN testified before both chambers in support of Governor Raimondo's State BIkeway Development Program. This bond initiative will now go on the November 2016 ballot for a vote. ACS CAN supports public policies that increase opportunities for active transportation and community-based physical activity.
- School Marketing: Despite tremendous grassroots efforts, that School Marketing bill stalled the last day of session. ACS CAN will re-introduce the bill in January 2017 and continue the push to prohibit food and beverage advertising of high calories and unhealthy foods to children on school grounds and buses.
Ensuring Access to Quality Care
- Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: ACS CAN was the only organization that testified before both chambers of the Rhode Island Legislature for funding of this life-saving program. As a result, the FY 2017 budget included continued funding for the Women's Cancer Screening Program which provides mammography, clinical breast exams, PAP tests and pelvic exams to uninsured and underinsured women. The program provides a pathway to Medicaid coverage for those women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. Since the program inception, over 30,000 women have been screened.
- Access to Pain Medication: ACS CAN successfully advocated to exempt pain associated with cancer within legislation that includes prescribing limits for pain managerment medication. The bill signed into law achieves safe prescribing protocols and does not interfere with acess to medicines for cancer patients who need them.
- Medication Synchronization: ACS CAN supported a bill that will allow patients on multiple prescription medication to sychronize the date on which they get each prescription filled. The successful passage of this policy makes it easier for patients to adhere to all medications without having to take multiple trips to the pharmacy each month.
- Biosimilars: ACS CAN worked with partners to update pharmacy statutes governing how interchangeable biosimilar drugs can be substituted by a pharmacist and how this substitution is communicated to all parties. The bill contained patient protections including: requires the physician be notified within five business days when a biosimilar is used, allows the physician the ability to withhold or provide consent for biosimilar, informs patients that a substitution is being used, and ensures timely and accurate electronic medical records of any subsitution in the event of an adverse reaction.
If you have questions about, or want more information on any of the above policies feel free to contact Susan Roberts, Government Relations Director at [email protected] or (401) 243-2620.