Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care

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Access to Health Care

COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the significant barriers to affordable health care that cancer patients have long faced. While relief packages and proposals to date have worked to address affordability of COVID-specific testing and treatment, policymakers must also tackle hurdles that cancer patients face like removing the red tape of prior authorization and step therapy, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and ensuring cost-sharing assistance directly benefits patients. There has been a great deal of research and investment in effective therapies that allow people fighting cancer to survive and live longer. Cancer patients need Congress to act quickly to remove hurdles to quality care.

56% of cancer patients and survivors are worried about being able to afford their treatment

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New Paper Finds Travel Distance Remains Barrier for Patients to Access National Cancer Center-Funded Sites

October 3, 2025
National

A new paper in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science finds that travel distance to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded sites remains a key barrier for patients wanting to participate in clinical trials or research at these locations.

State Sen. Steve Livingston Pre-Files SB19 to Expand Coverage for Cancer Screenings

September 24, 2025
Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Patient advocacy groups including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and ZERO Prostate Cancer applaud Alabama State Sen. Steve Livingston for pre-filing Senate Bill 19 , which eliminates cost sharing for lifesaving prostate cancer screenings for those covered by state-regulated insurance. The

Ahead of a Markup and Legislative Hearing in Key House Committees, Momentum Builds to Advance Bipartisan Legislation Critical to Increasing Access to Innovative Cancer Early Detection Tests

September 17, 2025
National

Today, the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means is expected to mark up the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act (H.R. 842).

Colorado Cancer Advocates Ask Rep. Gabe Evans to Protect Medicaid by Opposing Cuts

May 12, 2025
Colorado

Today, Colorado advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) delivered over 200 postcards signed by constituents to Rep. Gabe Evans’ district office in Northglenn, urging him to protect Medicaid by opposing any cuts to the program. The postcards highlighted how looming cuts to Medicaid would harm millions of Coloradans, including working families, cancer patients and survivors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, seniors, veterans and children.

Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care Resources

Spikes in Cost Increase the Burden of Affording Cancer Care

November 3, 2020

Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills. 

High Deductible Health Plans Cause Extreme Spikes in Cost

November 3, 2020

Most patients experience spikes in their health care costs around the time of a cancer diagnosis as they pay their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. For patients on high deductible plans, this spike can mean bills due for several thousands of dollars within one month.

Overall Cancer Costs are Rising

November 3, 2020

The U.S. spent approximately $183 billion on cancer-related health care in 2015. This represents a signification portion of the total health care spending in the U.S. And it is expected to keep growing. By 2030 cancer-related health care spending is expected to reach nearly $246 billion.