Jane Adams
Government Relations Director
2025 Alabama Legislative Summary
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 2025 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the state legislature on legislative efforts to ensure adequate funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention programs.
In 2025, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) worked with the Alabama legislature in support of the following priorities:
Access to Quality Care
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Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN continues to advocate for legislation to close the health insurance coverage gap for over 200,000 hardworking Alabamians. Alabama remains one of just 10 states that has not increased access to affordable health insurance through Medicaid. No legislative action was taken this session.
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Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN continues to advocate for policies that ensure access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health insurance plans including Medicaid and worked this legislative session to oppose the availability of inadequate health plans. Despite our opposition, legislation that allows for the sale of inadequate farm bureau health plans passed this session.
Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
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Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN successfully advocated to maintain funding of $600,000 for the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, the state breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the Alabama Department of Health.
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Colorectal Cancer: ACS CAN successfully advocated for Medicaid health plans to cover colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45 in accordance with updated American Cancer Society and United States Preventative Services Task Force guidelines and we ensured that patients are not charged for colonoscopies that follow a positive stool-based test. In addition, ACS CAN successfully advocated to maintain funding of $300,000 for the Alabama Colorectal and Prostate Cancer screening program.
Reducing the Toll of Tobacco
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ACS CAN worked to maintain funding for fact-based, statewide Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Programs.
Jane Adams, Alabama Government Relations Director ACS CAN
[email protected] 256-527-4928
ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, please visit www.fightcancer.org.