2025 Kentucky Legislative Session Priorities

2025 Kentucky Legislative Session Priorities 

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Kentucky Residents impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2025 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the Kentucky General Assembly on legislative and regulatory efforts that provide affordable, adequate access to health insurance including Medicaid, ensure adequate funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention programs, and enact prevention policies to protect kids from tobacco products and help support those who are trying to quit. We will be making the following fact-based policies a priority and ask for your support:

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco 

• JUUL Settlement Funding: ACS CAN recommends directing all future JUUL settlement payments to the state Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program instead of the general fund. This investment in youth prevention will ensure settlement funds address the lasting impact of the e-cigarette epidemic.
• Smoke-free Air: ACS CAN advocates for everyone’s right to breathe clean smoke-free airs in all workplaces including restaurants, bars, and gaming facilities. ACS CAN will work to defend existing smoke-free laws against any exemptions.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 

• Lung Cancer: ACS CAN advocates for all insurance plans to provide a comprehensive benefit for lung cancer screening including all follow-up testing according to recommended guidelines, without enrollee cost sharing or other barriers.
• Prostate Cancer: The higher incidence and mortality rates for Black men for prostate cancer are exceptionally concerning. ACS CAN supports improving prostate screening rates and reducing disparities by advocating for appropriate screening measures. This includes policies that would give men at high-risk for prostate cancer improved access to prostate cancer screening by requiring health insurance coverage for evidence-based prostate cancer preventive care and screenings, without cost sharing.

For more information, contact: Doug Hogan, ACS CAN Kentucky Government Relations Director

[email protected] Phone 502.545.6299

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information, please visit www.fightcancer.org.