Increased Access to Medicaid

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Access to Health Care

Where you live should not determine whether you live. But, for millions of low-income Americans, the state they live in could determine if they have access to health services, including cancer care.  To date, 31 states have increased access to their Medicaid programs, providing more than nine million individuals and families access to health care coverage and to lifesaving tests like mammograms, colonoscopies and other cancer screenings. 

We are working in the remaining 19 states to reach the day when everyone has access to affordable health care.  Going to the doctor is much cheaper than going to the emergency room. And, for a family, preventing cancer is much less expensive than treating it. 

We know how to save lives from cancer.  And we know how to save money on health care costs.  Ensuring that low-income working families have access to affordable health insurance – especially during tough times – is an important first step.   

  

More than 30 states have increased access to health care through Medicaid, helping provide nine million Americans with access to lifesaving cancer care.

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Tennessee Legislature and Governor Turn Their Backs on Cancer Patients

January 15, 2021
Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TN – Today, Gov. Bill Lee signed the Medicaid block grant waiver into law over patient advocacy groups' objections. Emily Ogden, director of government relations in Tennessee for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), made the following statement in reaction. "For months, ACS CAN and

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Prioritizing Greater Access to Healthcare for Missouriansin 2021

January 5, 2021
Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – As lawmakers dive into the new year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) asks that legislators support legislation that will ease the cancer burden in Missouri. Long after this pandemic passes, people deserve to live full, healthy lives. ACS CAN is advocating for:

Federal Action Jeopardizes Healthcare Coverage for Patients in Georgia

October 15, 2020

Eighteen patient and consumer groups issued the following statement regarding the Administration’s announcement of the approval of Georgia’s 1115 waiver and pending approval of the state’s 1332 waiver. Georgia is the only state that has chosen to rely on legally questionable Administration guidance issued in October 2018 that our organizations strongly opposed.

Withdrawal of SoonerCare 2.0 Waiver Application Clears Path for Full Medicaid Expansion

August 17, 2020
Oklahoma

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network of Oklahoma is pleased the state will move forward with full Medicaid expansion July 1, 2021.

Increased Access to Medicaid Resources

ACS CAN Comments on Georgia's 1115 Demonstration Waiver

January 24, 2020

ACS CAN comments on Georgia's 1115 Demonstration Waiver.

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ACS CAN Comments on Nebraska's 1115 Demonstration Waiver

January 13, 2020

ACS CAN comments on Nebraska's 1115 Demonstration Waiver.

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Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Waivers

January 10, 2020

An increasing number of states are seeking greater flexibility in administering their Medicaid programs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) give states the opportunity to test innovative or alternative approaches to providing health care coverage to their Medicaid populations through Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Waivers (otherwise known as "1115 waivers"). States must demonstrate that their waivers promote the objectives of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) and CMS must use general criteria to determine whether the objectives of the Medicaid/CHIP programs are met.

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