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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ACS CAN Reacts to Governor's Budget

January 18, 2022
New York

Governor Hochul has released her Executive Budget for the next fiscal year. ACS CAN is asking for increases in funding for the Cancer Services Program and tobacco control.

Senate HELP Committee Confirms Dr. Robert Califf as FDA Commissioner

January 13, 2022

Today the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee voted to confirm Robert Califf as the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Oral Chemo and Appropriations are Legislative Priorities to Fight Cancer

January 12, 2022
Michigan

LANSING, MI –As lawmakers dive into the 2022 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize improving access to cancer care and tobacco control funding, both of which will ease the burden of cancer in Michigan. “For nearly ten years, ACS CAN has

Legislative Action Needed to Reduce the Burden of Cancer on Buckeyes

January 11, 2022
Ohio

Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Government Relations Director Leo Almeida COLUMBUS, OHIO – “As lawmakers dive into the 2022 legislative session, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize passing legislation that will ease the burden of cancer

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. 

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.

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.