Access to Health Care

Access to Health Care

ACS CAN advocates for policies that provide access to treatments and services people with cancer need for their care - including those who may be newly diagnosed, in active treatment and cancer survivors.

Access to Health Care Resources:

ACS & ACS CAN and Partners Joint Comments on Patient Navigation Provisions of CY2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

September 8, 2023

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) along with partners appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Patient Navigation provisions of CY2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

ACS CAN Comments on DACA proposed rule

June 23, 2023

Access to care for those who are uninsured not only ensures that serious diseases like cancer can be detected and treated earlier but also often means better patient outcomes and less costs to the individual and the larger health care system.

Statement for the Record – House E&C Health Subcommittee Hearing on Rx Drug Shortages

June 13, 2023

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) provided the following statement for the record at the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Hearing on Legislative Solutions to Bolster Preparedness and Response for all Hazards and Public Health Security Threats on June 13, 2023.

Statement for the Record – House Oversight Hearing on Rx Shortages

May 11, 2023

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) provided the following statement for the record at the House Energy & Commerce Oversight Hearing on Examining the Root Causes of Drug Shortages: Challenges in Pharmaceutical Drug Supply Chains on May 11, 2023.

Survivor Views: Majority Less Likely to Get Recommended Screenings if Coverage is Lost

May 11, 2023

Our latest survey finds that cancer patients and survivors would be less likely to stay current with preventive care, including recommended cancer screenings, if the provision requiring these services be covered at no cost were repealed. This survey also explores the challenges of limited provider networks and the need for patient navigation.

Medicaid Unwinding Explainer

May 8, 2023

Ensuring your community is ready for a return to annual renewals.

Why is continuous coverage coming to an end?

Renewing Your Medicaid Coverage

May 8, 2023

Resources to help you prepare for a return to annual renewals

Annual Medicaid Renewals are back.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Wyoming

May 4, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Wisconsin

May 4, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Prescription Drug Affordability Resources:

Patient Assistance Programs

November 1, 2023

Patient Assistance Programs

Comments to CMS re: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program

September 12, 2023

Survivor Views: Copay Assistance and Patient Navigation

July 18, 2022

Prescription drug costs are a significant burden on cancer patients and survivors, sometimes even leading patients to miss or delay taking prescribed medications. The latest Survivor Views survey explores the role copay assistance programs can play in reducing this burden, and also addresses patient navigation and digital therapeutics.

Survivor Views: Affordability, Prescription Drugs, & Pain

December 15, 2021

A majority of cancer patients and survivors struggle to afford cancer care and over 80% have had to make financial sacrifices to cover their health care expenses. This survey also reveals ways that affordability concerns can negatively impact care and treatment, and explores issues related to prescription drug coverage and pain management options.

Some Patients Lack Access to Lower-cost Drug Alternatives

November 3, 2020

Many cancer patients take multiple drugs as part of their treatment – often for many months or years. While drugs are not the only costly part of cancer treatment, finding ways to reduce these costs for patients and payers will significantly reduce the overall cost burden of cancer.

Survivor Views: Surprise Billing and Prescription Cost and Coverage Survey Findings Summary

December 4, 2019

This Survivor Views survey examined access to and affordability of cancer care. Survivors report insurance-related barriers to obtaining prescriptions, and lower-income respondents in particular have difficulty affording them. 24% of respondents have received a surprise medical bill, 60% of which were more than $500.

Understanding Biologic and Biosimilar Drugs

July 27, 2018

Biological drugs, commonly referred to as biologics, are a class of drugs that are produced using a living system, such as a microorganism, plant cell, or animal cell. Like all drugs, biologics are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Formulary Transparency Helps Cancer Patients

October 6, 2017

For an individual with specific health care needs – like cancer patients and survivors – the drugs covered by a health plan and corresponding cost sharing for each drug is important information when choosing health insurance. However, to make an informed choice, formulary information must be disclosed to the individual.

Private Health Insurance Resources:

Cancer Drug Coverage in Health Insurance Marketplace Plans (2014)

March 1, 2014

This analysis examines two issues of particular interest to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and its members: the extent of coverage and cost-sharing for cancer drugs, and whether information on the coverage of cancer drugs can be readily obtained, compared, and understood by patients.

Spending to Survive: Cancer Patients Confront Holes in the Health Insurance System

January 30, 2009

This report highlights the severe challenges cancer patient may face in paying for life-saving care even when they have private health insurance.

Medicare Resources:

ACS CAN Comments on Medicare Prescription Payment Plan second guidance

April 9, 2024

Cancer in Medicare: An American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Chartbook

January 23, 2024

This ACS CAN chartbook provides cancer-specific data related to Medicare, including basic information about the program, a discussion of its components, characteristics of enrollees, coverage of services – specifically those related to prevention and screening – program expenditures and enrollees

Examining the Impact of Site Neutral Payment on Costs for Cancer Care

October 23, 2023

Key Findings

ACS CAN comments on CY2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

September 9, 2023

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels.

ACS & ACS CAN and Partners Joint Comments on Patient Navigation Provisions of CY2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

September 8, 2023

ACS CAN comments on Part D Explanation of Benefits

August 5, 2023

As Congress debated the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) we strongly advocated for both an annual cap on total Part D out-of-pocket costs and a mechanism that would allow an enrollee the option to pay the required cost-sharing in capped monthly installments.

Survivor Views: Open Enrollment

February 16, 2023

Cancer patients and survivors must balance reducing their health care costs with ensuring they have comprehensive coverage of services, treatments, and care providers.

ACS CAN Comments on CY2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

September 7, 2022

On Tuesday, September 6, 2022, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network filed comments on the calendar year (CY) 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule.

ACS CAN's comments focused on the following:

The Medicare Appeals Process: Reforms Needed to Ensure Beneficiary Access

November 17, 2020

The incidence of cancer increases with age and thus the Medicare program is vitally important to millions of Americans who are undergoing active cancer treatment, are cancer survivors or who have not yet developed cancer.

Costs and Barriers to Care Resources:

Cancer Patients Need Access to Comprehensive Health Insurance

January 10, 2017

Consumers need access to health insurance policies that cover a full range of evidence-based health care services – including prevention and primary care – necessary to maintain health, avoid disease, overcome acute illness and live with chronic disease. Any health care system that works for cancer patients must have standards ensuring that enrollees have access to comprehensive health insurance.

Bans on Lifetime and Annual Cost Caps Protect Cancer Patients

January 9, 2017

Current federal requirements prohibit most insurance plans from limiting both the lifetime and annual dollar value of benefits. This ban is one of several important patient protections that must be part of any health care system that works for cancer patients.

ACS CAN comments on 2015 Edition EHR Standards and Certification Criteria Proposed Rule

August 10, 2016

ACS CAN comments on 2015 Edition EHR Standards and Certification Criteria Proposed Rule

Medicaid Resources:

ACS CAN's comments re: Montana’s Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration

October 15, 2021

ACS CAN Comments re: TN 1115 Medicaid Waiver

September 9, 2021

ACS CAN submitted comments opposing Tennessee's proposal to fund its Medicaid program through a block grant and implement a closed formulary.

ACS CAN Comments to CMS re: OK 1115 Waiver

April 20, 2021

ACS CAN comments supporting Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma, but opposing their proposal to rescind retroactive eligibility

Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Waivers

January 10, 2020

An increasing number of states are seeking greater flexibility in administering their Medicaid programs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) give states the opportunity to test innovative or alternative approaches to providing health care coverage to their Medicaid populations through Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Waivers (otherwise known as "1115 waivers"). States must demonstrate that their waivers promote the objectives of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) and CMS must use general criteria to determine whether the objectives of the Medicaid/CHIP programs are met.

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