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Letter To The Editor Encouraging Bipartisan Health Care Reform

I have been encouraged by the start of bipartisan work in Congress on potential health care solutions.   Recently, I’ve heard policy experts as well as current and former governors across the country say that existing insurance marketplaces can be strengthened and that the state-federal Medicaid partnership can be improved without a repeal of the health care law as a starting point.   We must work to stabilize and not disrupt the health care markets. Disruption could cause continued ...

Survey: COVID-19 Affecting Patients’ Access to Cancer Care

Lincoln, NE—Cancer patients and those who’ve recently completed treatment are finding it challenging to get necessary health care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and many are experiencing financial stress trying to afford care in an increasingly difficult economic ... help patients. Those changes include, creating a special enrollment period so uninsured or underinsured Americans can enroll in comprehensive health plans established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), increased funding for state Medicaid programs and subsidies to help people who lose ...

Legislature Unanimously Votes ‘Yes’ to Establish Palliative Care Council

LINCOLN, Neb. – Today the Nebraska Legislature voted 48-0 to provide a crucial layer of extra care to Nebraskans battling devastating diseases such as cancer. The passage of LB 323, the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Act, creates state advisory council and gathers input from health care professionals on ways Nebraska can improve delivery of this type of integrated care. Palliative care is a growing field of specialized ... for the bill’s passage. This legislation ensures that comprehensive and accurate information about palliative care is available to the public, health care providers, and health care facilities.  “The Legislature has just paved the way for Nebraskans with chronic illnesses to achieve a ...

Public Health Advocates Travel to Lincoln for Tobacco Prevention Day

Lincoln, Neb., – February 21, 2019 – Public health advocates from across the state traveled to the Nebraska State Capitol today to call on the Legislature to prioritize the 2,500 Nebraskans who will die from smoking this year. The visit was part of Tobacco Prevention Day at the Capitol, which brought health advocates together to encourage lawmakers to increase the tax on cigarettes, regulate and tax e-cigarettes and increase funding for tobacco ... importance of healthy lifestyle choices and provide science-based treatment guidelines to healthcare professionals to help them provide quality care to their patients. We also educate lawmakers, policymakers and the public as we advocate for changes to protect and improve the health of our ...

Alternative Medicaid Financing Proposals Could Jeopardize Cancer Care; Increase States’ Medicaid Costs

... 4, 2017 —States would likely face increased costs and cancer patients and survivors could face delayed preventive, diagnostic and curative care under alternative Medicaid financing models being considered by Congress. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) today ... enrollees.” Unlike the current system, fixed federal payments would not adjust automatically to account for increased enrollment, unexpected health emergencies or the cost of new breakthrough treatments. Instead, such financing would shift the cost to states, which would then likely ... grants and per capita caps raise serious issues about Medicaid’s ability to offer low-income Americans quality, affordable and comprehensive health care coverage, particularly for those suffering from cancer,” said Hansen. “We want governors as well as Congress to carefully consider ...

Letter From ACS CAN Nebraska Volunteer on Access to Care In Lincoln Journal Star

Before the Affordable Care Act, accessing health coverage could be like playing Russian roulette for cancer patients. Insurance companies could cancel a patient’s ... before the ACA. Cancer patients can’t face the possibility of not being able to purchase coverage. Let’s not play politics with people’s health. I’m asking Congress to compromise on improvements to the existing law. Don’t repeal what’s working and send us back to uncertainty ...

Hearings to Fund Colorectal Screening Program & Raise Tobacco Tax Bookend Day at the Capitol Activities

LINCOLN, Neb. – March 9, 2017 – Cancer survivors, caregivers and health professionals will ask their legislators to put patients and prevention first in a busy week for American Cancer Society Cancer Action ... starts Monday, March 13, in the appropriations committee as ACS CAN volunteer and former Administrator of the Office of Women’s and Men’s Health Kathy Ward testifies to the importance of the Nebraska Colon Cancer Screening Program. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of ... Day at the Capitol and will discuss three bills crucial to the health of Nebraska. LB 323 would establish an advisory council on palliative care and quality of life and start a palliative care education program in Nebraska. This growing field of specialized medical care focuses on ...

Letter in Omaha World Herald: Raise cigarette tax even more

... the state’s cigarette tax. I say, great idea. By increasing taxes on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack, our state could save lives, reduce health care costs and generate much-needed revenue.   While lawmakers look for revenue, they should keep in mind that cigarette taxes are one of the most ... receive, even with the projected reductions in smoking due to a tax increase. Taxpayers would also benefit from reductions in smoking-caused health care spending by the government and private sector.   My fellow American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers and I are asking ...

Legislature’s Missed Opportunity To Reduce Smoking, Save Lives

... It would have been a win-win-win for Nebraskans. “Increasing the cigarette tax by a $1.50 per pack would have saved lives, reduced preventable health care costs and raised much needed revenue. It would’ve helped 10,400 adults who smoke quit and would’ve kept 8,000 kids from becoming smokers. It also would’ve saved an estimated $387.17 million in long-term health care costs. And a $1.50 per pack cigarette tax increase would’ve raised over $74 million in reliable, new annual revenue for the state. ...

Nebraska Revenue Committee Bill Fails to Address Tobacco Crisis  

... Committee advanced a bill that fails to prioritize reducing Nebraska’s high tobacco burden. The Committee missed an opportunity to improve the health of Nebraskans by reducing tobacco use, leaving out fact-based policies on the leading cause of preventable death in Nebraska.  “If Nebraska is going to be serious about improving public health, we need to address the state’s tobacco crisis. In the state, 13% of adults smoke cigarettes and almost 15% of high school students use ... ACS CAN will be advocating for increasing the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack with a parallel tax on all other tobacco products to reduce health care costs, protect kids, and save lives.”       ###   About ACS CAN    The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS ...

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