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.
The nation’s drug shortage crisis continues to affect cancer patients and survivors with 1 in every 10 (10%) reporting impacts to care, a majority of whom have had difficulties finding substitute medications (68%) and cited treatment delays (45%).
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.
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care, including recommended cancer screenings, if the provision requiring these services be covered at no cost were repealed.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.
Cancer patients and survivors must balance reducing their health care costs with ensuring they have comprehensive coverage of services, treatments, and care providers.
On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and overruling the precedents of Roe and Casey. State actions on access to abortion services could have significant impact on cancer patients.
Telehealth visits that enable providers to deliver clinical services from a distance using options like video conferencing and remote monitoring can provide cancer patients and survivors with a convenient means of accessing both cancer care and primary care.
ACS CAN conducted a survey of 315 oncology providers examining barriers providers face in performing recommended cancer biomarker testing. The survey found that providers face challenges such as lab turnaround time, patient concerns about out-of-pocket-costs, and insurance coverage of biomarker tests.
This Survivor Views survey finds that cancer patients and survivors continue to face pandemic-related health care delays one year later, including disruptions to screenings and difficulties accessing care.
Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on the 340B Drug Pricing Integrity and Affordability for Patients Act discussion draft.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee on the Request for Information: Commonsense Policy Options to Lower Drug Prices for Patients.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program Proposed Rule.
This factsheet explains what health care tax credits (also known as "enhanced tax credits") are and why Congress needs to extend them before they expire at the end of the year.
Drug therapies are the bedrock of cancer care. Making these therapies affordable, while continuing to encourage innovation of new treatments, is crucial to accomplishing the mission of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. ACS CAN has long fought for public policies that support both the affordability and availability of medically necessary prescription drugs.
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.
