Press Room

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is pleased to see the Louisiana Medical Debt Protections Act (SB 414) signed into law.

The House and Senate unanimously passed a bill to make prostate cancer screenings more accessible this week, sending it to the desk of Gov. Jeff Landry. SB 84 would make prostate cancer screenings more affordable for patients at high-risk for the disease by eliminating patient cost-sharing. “If passed, this law would have a significant impact on prostate cancer early detection in Louisiana,” said Louisiana Government Relation Director Alice Kline. “We are hopeful Gov. Landry will sign this bill into law.” 

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) was pleased to see the Louisiana Medical Debt Protections Act (SB 414) pass the House Committee on Commerce today. Recent polling data found that nearly 70% of Louisiana voters surveyed reported having current or past medical debt. Louisiana ranks in the top ten states for proportion of people with medical debt in collections, at 18.1%.  

Survivors, caregivers and advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) gathered at the Capitol this morning for Cancer Action Day, where they met with lawmakers. Their goal: ease the burden of medical debt for all cancer patients.

As the Louisiana legislative session continues to move forward, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize passing legislation to ease the burden of medical debt on Louisianans and make prostate cancer screenings affordable for at-risk populations. 

Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, unanimously passed a local smoke-free ordinance that took effect today. The ordinance protects workers and residents from the dangers of secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplaces and other public spaces.

Baton Rouge, LA. – Aug 12, 2025 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has placed two new billboards in Baton Rouge to catch Congress’s attention ahead of crucial votes coming up in Washington, D.C.

As lawmakers head into the 2025 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to support legislation that will ease the burden of cancer on Louisianians and enact prevention policies to protect kids from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit.

Elected officials across the state must do more to support residents of Louisiana who want to quit using tobacco products, say cancer patients, survivors, and advocates who are marking the American Cancer Society’s 48^th annual Great American Smokeout®. The Great American Smokeout is a day for people who use tobacco to create a plan to quit. 

The Shreveport Council today passed an amendment to undermine the effective and popular smoke-free ordinance to once again allow smoking in casinos, being the first municipality in Louisiana, and in the U.S., to withdraw smoke-free workplace protections from their hardworking constituents. With this move, Louisiana is once again first in the worst of ways and rankings.