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House Advances Problematic Public Health Provisions as Part of Debt Limit Proposal Bill

Drastically Cutting Nation’s Investment in Cancer Research and Proposing Ineffective Work Requirements to Medicaid Program Would Restrict Access to Affordable Health Care

April 26, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 26, 2023 – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives, in a 217-215 vote, passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, advancing provisions that would greatly restrict access to affordable care and risk progress in the fight against cancer.  

Just this week, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) sent a letter to House leadership detailing their concerns on provisions in the Act and the adverse impact they would have on individuals’ ability to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.  

The following is a statement from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse: 

“We’re disappointed by the House passage of a proposal that includes harmful public health policies that would roll back our nation’s progress in the fight against cancer in an aim to address the debt limit. Data show work requirements won’t achieve any intended stated outcomes –  including increasing employment. Restricting access to care by enacting far-reaching work requirements in Medicaid and cutting critical funding for cancer research does nothing more than leave individuals and families diagnosed with and at risk of cancer even more vulnerable to the disease and its costs. 

“Our immense progress in the fight against cancer thus far and mission to continue addressing our country’s cancer burden will undoubtedly be compromised if the drastic cuts passed today are enacted. Additionally, our ability to ensure the availability of affordable, meaningful health care coverage will be compromised, a critical factor in an individual’s ability to survive cancer.  

“As Congress continues to find ways to address the debt limit, we urge the Senate to reject the  dangerous provisions included in the House legislation and ask Senators to protect the critical programs and health care access that has allowed the number of cancer survivors living in the U.S. today to reach a record-breaking 17 million — and do the same for future generations.” 

 

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