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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Rural Populations Face Greater Barriers as Non-Medical Costs Hinder Clinical Trial Access

February 10, 2026
National

Today, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) was joined by 24 other organizations in proposing the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General adopt a new regulatory safe harbor from the Anti-kickback Statute that would allow clinical trial sponsors to financially support patients to offset indirect or non-medical costs associated with clinical trial participation, such as travel, parking and lodging.

Cervical Cancer Screening Legislation Will Save Lives of Oregonians 

February 2, 2026
Oregon

SALEM, Oregon –– Cervical cancer screenings save many Oregonian lives, but too often patients must make significant financial sacrifice for a full, clear diagnosis and some simply cannot afford to get to the bottom of a potentially deadly initial screening result. The Oregon Legislature has an opportunity to bridge that

Millions of North Carolinians’ Medical Debt Erased

October 14, 2025
North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. - More than 2.5 million North Carolinians had over $6.5 billion in medical debt relieved this week, fulfilling the promise of the state’s plan to engage hospitals in a program to relieve medical debt and institute policies to prevent patients from incurring additional debt. By participating,

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.

Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care Resources

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.

Some Patients Lack Access to Lower-cost Drug Alternatives

November 3, 2020

Many cancer patients take multiple drugs as part of their treatment – often for many months or years. While drugs are not the only costly part of cancer treatment, finding ways to reduce these costs for patients and payers will significantly reduce the overall cost burden of cancer.