LANSING, MI – As lawmakers dive into the new year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) looks ahead to what public health initiatives our lawmakers can accomplish in the 2021 legislative session. Michigan has a long way to go regarding tobacco control policy and access to care for cancer patients. Long after this pandemic passes, people deserve to live full, healthy lives.
ACS CAN is advocating for:
Oral Chemotherapy Fairness: ACS CAN will continue to work with the legislature to pass oral chemotherapy fairness legislation. This legislation would give chronically ill patients easier access to the cancer treatment they need. It would ensure the out-of-pocket cost to the patient for oral chemotherapy and intravenous chemotherapy are similar. Currently, the out-of-pocket costs for some oral chemotherapy medications are higher than intravenous medications and provide an unnecessary barrier for some Michiganders.
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding: adequately funding Michigan tobacco Quitline. Currently, the state's tobacco Quitline does not receive enough funding to operate for the full year.
ACS CAN volunteers look forward to meeting with lawmakers during ACS CAN's annual Cancer Action Week on April 26th-30rd. ACS CAN encourages individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in these issues to reach out to ACS CAN to get involved in the fight against cancer at: fightcancer.org/MI.
###
About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (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, visit www.fightcancer.org.