ACS CAN Praises General Assembly's Commitment to Cancer Patients

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – May 13, 2016 – Today, the Missouri General Assembly concluded its 2016 legislative session. Among its legislative accomplishments were 1) protected funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings through Show Me Healthy Women, 2) maintained funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, 3) ensured availability of substitute “biosimilar” medications and 4) improved quality and delivery of patient-centered and family-focused care.

In response, Stacy Reliford, Missouri government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) issued the following statement:

“The General Assembly took an important stand for cancer patients by passing legislation to fund prevention, enhance medication availability and improve the quality and delivery of palliative care. We’d like to thank our lawmakers for prioritizing the more than 34,000 Missourians who will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

“Through enhanced palliative care delivery, patients will now have an easier way to work with a team of doctors to manage the side effects that come with their disease. By focusing on the patient’s goals, hospitals, in turn, will save money by avoiding unnecessary and unwanted treatments. Together, this will help improve patient satisfaction, boost quality of life and add an extra layer of support to their care.

“With protected funding for cancer screenings and tobacco cessation, Missourians everywhere will have the resources they need to stop this disease before it starts. No matter how many advancements we make in research, there is no greater treatment for cancer than prevention.

“And by passing a law to allow pharmacists to substitute biologically similar medications, or ‘biosimilars,’ for certain expensive drugs, the General Assembly ensured that cancer patients have access to more affordable treatments, while still respecting the doctor-patient relationship. This guarantees that physicians are made aware of these substitutions and are able to recommend a change, if they believe the biosimilar isn’t appropriate for their patient. In the long-run, this means a wider variety of safe, effective options for those facing a cancer diagnosis.

“We are grateful to our lawmakers for their hard work on these issues. This was undoubtedly a successful legislative session for cancer patients, survivors and their families. We look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly in the months ahead to ensure a healthier Missouri.”

About ACS CAN

ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

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