ATLANTA, Ga. – With the end of the 2024 Georgia legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is optimistic for the future of increasing access to health coverage in the Peach State and reinforces its commitment to this effort. In reflection on the session, ACS CAN Managing Director of Advocacy John Hoctor released the following statement:
“We saw great strides made during the 2024 legislative session related to closing the coverage gap in Georgia. The state came the closest it’s ever come to bringing new health care access to more than 400,000 uninsured Georgians living in the gap. We thank the lawmakers who supported the creation of the health care coverage commission and look forward to working with the committee members on a Georgia-specific solution to addressing health coverage needs next year.
“More than 63,000 Georgians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Patients need unencumbered access to care so they can treat and survive cancer. The more-than 400,000 uninsured Georgians living in the gap also need access to lifesaving screenings and primary care so they can detect cancer at the earliest stages and increase chances of survival.
“These patients include people like 42-year-old LaShonda Harrell, who has stage IV metastatic breast cancer but needs health coverage to afford a potentially-lifesaving scan to assess cancer spread. Without coverage, she has not been able to access the care she needs and she can’t afford to wait.
“Closing the coverage gap will strengthen Georgia’s workforce and bring $4 billion to the state, an economic opportunity unmatched by any other alternative.
“We look forward to working with our volunteers to continue to highlight and advance this critical priority in 2025. We will build on the momentum we have seen this session across the aisle. We ask anyone with experiences living in the coverage gap to share their stories with us so we can further amplify the urgency of this issue to lawmakers.”