Press Room

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill today, expanding access to biomarker testing to more patients st

DES MOINES, Iowa - Statement from Jackie Cale, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Iowa government relations director:

Today, Governor Kim Reynolds signed The Gail Orcutt School Radon Safety Bill (named after a beloved retired teacher who died of radon-induced lung cancer), which requires radon testing and mitigation in Iowa schools. 

The Iowa Senate voted unanimously to approve House File 2412, which would require radon testing and mitigation in Iowa schools. The Gail Orcutt School Radon Safety Bill (named after a beloved retired teacher who died of radon-induced lung cancer) now heads to the governor’s desk.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network commends the House Education Committee for advancing legislation (HF 2264) that would require radon testing and mitigation in Iowa schools. The Gail Orcutt, School Radon Safety Bill now goes to the full House for a vote.

Rep. Brian Lohse (R-Bondurant) introduced legislation that would require radon testing and mitigation in Iowa schools. Exposure to high radon concentration has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer in Iowa. 

Des Moines, Iowa – The Iowa Legislature approved a budget bill today that includes initiatives supported by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) to improve cancer prevention, early detection and treatment.

Iowa continues to fall short when it comes to passing legislation that prevents and reduces suffering and death from cancer. According to the latest edition of How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Iowa failed to measure up to policy recommendations in nearly all areas of tobacco control, including cigarette taxes. 

The Iowa State Department of Health and Iowa Medicaid Enterprise recently announced that smoking cessation therapies for Iowa Medicaid enrollees will no longer be subject to prior authorization requirements. Beginning May 1, patients will not have to wait for additional insurance approval to access nicotine replacement therapy, such as a patch or gum, or oral smoking cessation medications.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), I’m dedicated to saving lives from this deadly disease.