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Cancer Advocates Celebrate Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 20, 2024 – As one of the leading patient advocacy groups that advocated for the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is celebrating the impact of the historic law ahead of its 14th ... Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “American Cancer Society research continues to show a connection between lack of access to meaningful health care and late-stage cancer diagnosis, underscoring the critical role health insurance coverage plays in survivorship. While the ACA has been lifesaving in providing accessible care to those who need it most by ...

Report: Cancer Patients Should Get at Least the Health Benefits Congress Enjoys

A new report by ACS CAN and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute finds the most popular health insurance plan among federal employees offers adequate and affordable care for people with chronic disease, making it a good starting point for defining minimum coverage benefits in health care reform legislation. The ...

Eliminating Cancer Disparities in the Black Community Starts with Health Equity

... and advance equity in all forms, and uplift Black joy.   We’re commemorating this Black History Month by highlighting the importance of health equity and policies that increase equitable access to cancer care for all, raising awareness of cancer disparities in the Black community, spotlighting the pivotal work of our Black volunteers, and honoring Black figures who have made invaluable contributions to health equity and cancer care.    Cancer impacts everyone, but it doesn't impact everyone equally. Despite some progress, Black communities ...

Majority of voters support protecting health coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions

A majority of voters from across the political spectrum believe every American deserves access to quality, affordable health coverage, regardless of their health status or pre-existing condition, according to a new ACS CAN poll. Nearly 7 in 10 voters said that patients with pre-existing conditions should not be charged more for their health care coverage and agreed there should be no extra costs, no caveats hidden in the fine print and no denial of necessary health care. And 82 percent ...

House Advances Problematic Public Health Provisions as Part of Debt Limit Proposal Bill

... of Representatives, in a 217-215 vote, passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act, advancing provisions that would greatly restrict access to affordable care and risk progress in the fight against cancer.   Just this week, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) sent a letter to ... is a statement from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse:  “We’re disappointed by the House passage of a proposal that includes harmful public health policies that would roll back our nation’s progress in the fight against cancer in an aim to address the debt limit. Data show work ... be compromised if the drastic cuts passed today are enacted. Additionally, our ability to ensure the availability of affordable, meaningful health care coverage will be compromised, a critical factor in an individual’s ability to survive cancer.   “As Congress continues to find ...

New Health Disparities Chartbook Illustrates Inequities in Cancer Prevention, Treatment and Survivorship

WASHINGTON, DC - October 17, 2018 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) released a publication today to illustrate health disparities across the cancer continuum and discuss public policy strategies to address those disparities. Cancer Disparities: A Chartbook ... ACS CAN is actively pursuing evidence-based public policies at the local, state and federal levels that aim to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes for all U.S. population groups. It highlights some of the greatest gaps and challenges, which will further guide ACS CAN in its ... must include enhanced prevention and early detection, increased access to coverage and treatment across all populations; and delivery of care in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. Continued research – particularly on ways to collect disparities data, implement public ...

Biden Cancer Moonshot Announces Expanded Coverage for Patient Navigation in Private Health Plans 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Biden Cancer Moonsho t announced today the expansion of coverage for patient navigation services in plans from seven health insurance companies, as well as actions more than 40 comprehensive cancer centers and community oncology practices across the country are taking to help patients be reimbursed for these critical services.     “ Navigating a confusing and complex health care system after receiving a cancer diagnosis is difficult for anyone. We’re encouraged to hear coverage for patient navigation is expanding in ...

Palliative Care Bill Unanimously Approved by House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. – October 28, 2019 – Today the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). The bipartisan bill would increase federal research funding for palliative care, including pain and symptom management, and would establish palliative care education and training programs for doctors, nurses and other health professionals. It would also create a national public education and awareness campaign to educate patients and providers about the ... more robust pain and symptom management training programs, while also bolstering federal pain research efforts at the National Institutes of Health. “ACS CAN and the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) have long advocated for this critical bill. We urge the Senate to move quickly ...

Letter: Administration Action Should Not Undermine Access to Affordable, Comprehensive Health Coverage

WASHINGTON – Twenty organizations representing millions of patients and consumers across the country sent a letter to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury urging the administration to address patient concerns before finalizing troubling rules that as currently drafted would undermine access to affordable, comprehensive health coverage. The groups note, “Your Departments have recently proposed a number of policy changes, the cumulative effect we believe will have ... 6.4 million Americans being uninsured in 2019. The groups also note that while reducing premiums is a shared goal, those with high-cost health care needs like cancer could actually end up paying more out of pocket to access recommended treatment and follow-up care. Furthermore, if bare ...

ACS CAN files legal brief in support of protections for people with serious health needs

... to file a legal brief or amicus curiae that describes the devastating impact patients would face if the district court rules the Affordable Care Act is not a valid law. Twenty states, led by the Attorney General of Texas, recently filed a lawsuit , Texas v United States of America. They ... Care Act must be struck down because it cannot stand now that Congress repealed the tax penalty that a person receives if they do not have health care coverage. ACS CAN and the other patient groups urged the court in their legal brief to uphold the Affordable Care Act and to “recognize Congress’s clear intent to improve access to lifesaving health care for millions of Americans.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) is typically responsible for defending the country’s laws, but, in this ...

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