Reducing Health Disparities Press Releases
Legislation aimed at increasing access to breast and cervical cancer screening was introduced today in the U.S. Senate. The bipartisan Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
New federal legislation that would make it easier for all cancer patients to participate in clinical trials was introduced today in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by U.S. Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and August Pfluger (R-Texas), the Clinical Trial Modernization Act would help remove cost and geographic hurdles that prevent patients from participating in clinical trials.
With Friday marking the end of the legislative session in Hawai’i, cancer survivors, patients, and advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) commend the state legislature for committing to health equity by passing a bill that enables researchers to study why cancer disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans including Filipinos in Hawai’i.
Survivors and oncology professionals share their stories with lawmakers to underscore the importance of insurance coverage of cutting-edge biomarker testing
Insurance coverage of biomarker testing will reduce health disparities for cancer patients & improve outcomes across broad spectrum of serious disease
Lawmakers asked to reduce barriers to care and reduce prescription related costs
Today, the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representatives Neal Dunn, M.D. (R-FL) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) with Representatives Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Troy Carter (D-LA) as cosponsors.
Bipartisan legislation that would remove financial barriers to prostate cancer screening was introduced today in the U.S. Senate. Sponsored by Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), the Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act would waive cost-sharing requirements such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, for prostate cancer screening tests for men with the highest risk of prostate cancer, including Black men and those with a family history of the disease.
Washington, D.C. – Today, patient groups representing millions of individuals with serious diseases and health conditions submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to uphold insurance coverage eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, as permitted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Final Rule issued in May 2024.
PROVIDENCE – December 28, 2024 – Starting the first of the year, menthol flavored e-cigarette products will still be on store shelves across Rhode Island.