ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When it comes to implementing policies and passing legislation to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer, New Mexico has room to improve. According to the latest edition of “How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality,” New Mexico measured up to policy recommendations in three of nine issue areas. The report was released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).
“This 16th edition of the report highlights what we are lacking when it comes to fighting cancer,” said ACS CAN Government Relations Director Sandra Adondakis. “New Mexico needs to establish a palliative care advisory council comprised of state experts that empowers a state agency to provide palliative care information through their website and other channels.
“This year alone, 9,730 of our neighbors will be diagnosed with cancer. We owe it to them and everyone at risk of developing the disease to increase access to palliative care,” Adondakis said. “It provides cancer patients and their caregivers an extra layer of support, making available a team of experts focused on relieving pain, managing emotional stress and offering other supportive services.”
“How Do You Measure Up?” rates states in nine specific areas of public policy that can help fight cancer, including increased access to care through Medicaid, screening program funding, smoke-free laws, cigarette tax levels, tobacco prevention and cessation program funding, and cessation coverage under Medicaid. The report also looks at whether a state provides a balanced approach to pain medication and if it has passed policies proven to increase patient quality of life. A color-coded system classifies how well a state is doing in each issue. Green shows that a state has adopted evidence-based policies and best practices; yellow indicates moderate movement toward the benchmark; and red shows where states are falling short.
How New Mexico Measures Up:
Increased Access to Medicaid: Green
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Funding: Green
Pain Policy: Green
Access to Palliative Care: Yellow
Cigarette Tax Rates: Yellow
Smoke-free Laws: Yellow
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program Funding: Red
Medicaid Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Services: Red
Indoor Tanning: Red
View the complete report and details on New Mexico’s grades here.