Access to Health Care

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Related Priorities

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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Affordable Cancer Care Past Due
National

Congress: Affordable Cancer Care Is Past Due

Ask Congress to help people access affordable health care by closing the Medicaid coverage gap and extending the expansion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace subsidies.

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National

Tell Congress To Pass The DIVERSE Trials Act To Expand Access To Clinical Trials And The Latest Advancements In Treatment

Ask your member of congress to cosponsor and support the DIVERSE Trials Act (H.R. 5030 and S. 2706).

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Latest Updates

See More Updates

Discrimination, Quality of Care Remain Barriers to Care for Black and Hispanic Cancer Patients and Survivors

May 16, 2022

Discrimination in health care and quality of care remain barriers to receiving care for Black and Hispanic cancer patients and survivors, according to preliminary data from a forthcoming American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Survivor Views survey.

Governor Ducey Signs Legislation to Increase Access to Innovative Testing that Can Match Patients with Most Effective Treatments

May 6, 2022
Arizona

Governor Ducey signed legislation that will ensure biomarker testing is covered by more insurance plans, including Medicaid. The new law will enable more Arizonans to benefit from biomarker testing, a critical step in accessing precision medicine treatments that can lead to improved survival, better quality of life.

Wichita Falls Resident Ensures His Mother’s Legacy Fighting for Texans with Cancer Lives on

May 6, 2022
Texas

WICHITA FALLS, TX – May 6, 2022 – Family and friends recall former Wichita Falls resident Jackie Bush as the definition of bravery, strength and a force to be reckoned with. She undoubtedly left her mark in Texas, and on the hearts of fellow volunteers and legislatures as a lead

House Introduces Health Equity Bill Critical to Reducing Health Disparities and Fighting Chronic Disease

April 26, 2022

Legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today aims to improve access to quality health care for and decrease health disparities in communities of color.

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.