Access to Health Care Press Releases
BISMARCK, N.D. –– A week after receiving a “do not pass” in committee, House Bill 1283 passed the full Senate on Monday behind strong Senate voices who took a stand on behalf of North Dakotans who might need additional breast cancer screenings beyond mammograms.
Earlier this week, the New Jersey State Assembly voted to advance a bill that seeks to create more stability for patients. The proposal (Assembly Bill 5217) would curb an unfair insurance practice that makes critical medication more expensive and access unpredictable. With its passage in committee, advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are hopeful that the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee see the bill’s momentum as a call to action to take the final steps to pass and enact the necessary reforms.
Des Moines, Iowa – “Iowa has the 2nd highest cancer rates in the country and our cancer rates continue to rise year over year. The State Legislature’s votes to cut Medicaid expansion will plunge our state deeper into this cancer crisis.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) united cancer survivors, patients and caregivers from across Nevada at the state capitol for ‘Cancer Action Day,’ Monday to urge lawmakers to oppose AB76, which is currently being considered by the state legislature. If enacted, the bill would allow for indoor cannabis smoking and weaken the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act.
A new report by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) found that over 70% of commercially-insured patients had out-of-pocket costs for follow-up breast cancer diagnostic tests in 2023.
Last week, the Senate and House voted to advance Senate Bill 773 and House Bill 1246, legislation which seeks to create more stability for patients by curbing an unfair insurance practice that makes critical medication more expensive and access unpredictable. The passage of each bill in their respective chambers, which now await concurrence voting, came on the heels of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (ACS CAN) annual Cancer Action Day when cancer survivors, patient advocates and medical professionals traveled to Annapolis to discuss the importance of this legislation in ensuring access to lifesaving prescription drugs. Advocates are hopeful that lawmakers see the bills’ momentum as a call to action to take the final steps to pass and enact the necessary reforms.
In a new, large national study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers found the 2018 federal policy loosening restrictions on STLD insurance plans was associated with an increase in late-stage cancer diagnoses in states without or with inadequate additional STLD plan regulatory protections.
Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), along with partner organizations, filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in the case of Medina v. Planned Parenthood.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. –– The Wyoming Legislature closed business last week having again failed to take meaningful action to address the state’s ongoing health care crisis.