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

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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Patient Groups Praise Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Health Care Law, Preserving Critical Patient Protections

June 17, 2021
National

The nation’s leading patient advocacy groups are praising the U.S. Supreme Court ruling today upholding the health care law known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Court ruled the plaintiff states and taxpayers did not have standing to bring the suit.

ACS CAN Ohio Government Relations Director, Bryan Hannon offers opposition testimony to Ohio House Bill 248

June 17, 2021
Ohio

ACS CAN Ohio Government Relations Director, Bryan Hannon offers opposition testimony to Ohio House Bill 248. ACS CAN represents millions of patients and cancer survivors, and their families nationwide, including the 72,000 Ohioans who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. Many cancer patients and their families have been hard

Louisiana Elected Officials Increase Access to Care for Cancer Patients

June 10, 2021
Louisiana

Statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Government Relations Director Kimberly Hughes Baton Rouge, LA –“The Louisiana legislature recently passed legislation that will improve access to care for cancer patients through co-pay accumulator legislation and the expansion of coverage for biomarker testing. “Many cancer patients have

Health Organizations Ask New York Assembly to Help Patients Struggling with Medication Costs

June 8, 2021
New York

ACS CAN and other health organizations are asking lawmakers to pass legislation dealing with copay accumulators

Access to Health Care Resources

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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Patient Assistance Programs & Discount Coupons

May 28, 2020

Many cancer patients have difficulty affording the cost of their prescription drugs, regardless of whether they are insured.  This is especially true for newer drugs that do not have a generic equivalent.  Many programs exist to help patients afford their medication.  This fact sheet focuses on two of these – patient assistance programs and discount coupons.  

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Joint Letter to Congress on Patient Coverage Priorities in COVID Relief Packages

April 15, 2020

ACS CAN joined 50 groups representing, cancer patients, survivors, doctors, nurses, cancer centers, pharmacists and researchers urging Congress to address barriers to patient access to care and coverage.

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