Access to Health Care

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Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care. From cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies to the latest breakthroughs in treatment, everyone should have access to the care that could prevent cancer and save their life.  In addition, ensuring that low-income working families have access to affordable health insurance is proven to reduce overall health care costs. 

We are working in every state and in Congress to expand health care options and protect existing laws that help patients get true access to the care they need. 

People without health insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a late stage, when the disease is harder to treat, more costly and more difficult to survive.

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Access to health care
National

U.S. House considering including ACS CAN provisions in wide-ranging bill

Ask Congress to pass our proposals that reduce the cost of health insurance and cap prescription drug out-of-pocket expenses for millions of cancer patients and survivors. 

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Latest Updates

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Shana Crews Accepts National Staff Award for Excellence in Cancer Advocacy Work

September 27, 2021
Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Shana Crews was awarded the Government Relations Professional of the Year Award by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in recognition of her efforts to help make cancer a national priority. “When it comes to advancing public policies that reduce the burden of cancer,

New Ad Campaign Calls on Members of Congress to Support Legislation Aiming to Increase Early Cancer Detection

September 22, 2021
National

Washington, DC – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) launched a new advertising campaign this week highlighting its strong support for the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 1946/S. 1873), legislation that aims to improve access to new and innovative cancer screenings among Medicare beneficiaries

House Committee Focuses on Public Health with Increased Tobacco Tax, Greater Access to Affordable Health Care

September 14, 2021
National

The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote today on legislation that if enacted would greatly improve public health.

House Committee Votes on Policies to Improve Health Care Affordability and Availability for Millions of Americans

September 13, 2021
National

Washington, D.C.— The House Energy and Commerce Committee will vote today on legislation that would greatly improve the availability and affordability of health care for millions of Americans. The legislation—part of the broader budget reconciliation package before Congress—would create a means for low-income people living in states that have not

Access to Health Care Resources

ACS CAN Supports the DIVERSE Trials Act (H.R. 5030/S. 2706)

September 2, 2021

The DIVERSE Trials Act (H.R. 5030/S. 2706) could increase racial, socioeconomic and geographic diversity in clinical trials and make it easier for all cancer patients to participate. 

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Telehealth for People Living with and Beyond Cancer

November 9, 2020

Telehealth visits that enable providers to deliver clinical services from a distance using options like video conferencing and remote monitoring can provide cancer patients and survivors with a convenient means of accessing both cancer care and primary care.

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Cancer Biomarker Testing

July 22, 2020

Advances in precision medicine have led to targeted cancer therapies that have improved patient outcomes and quality of life within populations of cancer patients with very specific biomarkers. Testing patients for cancer biomarkers is integral to identify those who may benefit from targeted therapy. Despite the importance of such testing, many cancer patients are not tested for biomarkers. This fact sheet highlights recent advancements in targeted cancer therapies and data from ACS CAN Survivor Views surveys of cancer patients and survivors assessing barriers to biomarker testing.  

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