TALLAHASSEE, FL – March 7, 2023 – As lawmakers gather for the 2023 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in Florida is advocating for state lawmakers to work across the aisle to pass a bill that is expected to revolutionize cancer treatment for Floridians by expanding access to biomarker testing.
Progress in the fight against cancer has been in part due to advances in biomarker testing, which allows physicians to match patients with the most effective treatment for their specific cancer. Unfortunately, not all Floridians are benefiting from the latest advancements in biomarker testing, which can contribute to disparities in access to the most appropriate and effective treatments.
“The advances in cancer care that have come from being able to tailor treatment to a person’s individual condition are critical for winning the fight against cancer,” noted Susan Harbin, Florida Senior Government Relations Director for ACS CAN. “Game-changing legislation such as this will bring the hope of precision medicine to more people across the state by improving quality of life for cancer patients, as well as those with autoimmune disease and other chronic illnesses, and potentially reduce costs by allowing some Floridians to bypass costly and ineffective treatments, and instead quickly identify which therapies will be most effective for their individual disease.”
To date, 4 states across the country have passed legislation to ensure coverage biomarker testing reflects the latest evidence, with governors like Gov. Doug Ducey from Arizona sparking momentum around the initiative. ACS CAN hopes that Florida will be next and is supporting bills filed by Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman (HB 805) and Sen. Tom Wright (SB 1218).
ACS CAN Budget Priorities
ACS CAN is also advocating for the legislature to follow the Governor’s proposed budget allocations for key cancer-fighting policies and programs, including an estimated $83 million for tobacco prevention and cessation programs; $100 million for the Casey DeSantis cancer research program; as well as continued funding for the Mary Brogan Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program ; . ACS CAN also commends the Governor for continuing to prioritize the fight against cancer by proposing $20 million for a new Florida Cancer Innovation Fund, which would provide grants for innovative cancer research.
Individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in these issues are encouraged to reach out to ACS CAN to get involved in the fight against cancer by visiting fightcancer.org/fl.
