2020 Maine Session Summary
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.
News
August 2017 State Update
August 29, 2017
ACS CAN Massachusetts will be focusing on a variety of issues in the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. Below is an update on those that have had movement in the past month:
While the legislature is still in session in August, we don’t expect movement on any of our issues until after Labor Day. However, ACS CAN will continue to monitor legislative activity and take action as needed.
Comprehensive Youth Tobacco Prevention: Comprehensive tobacco control legislation which would increase the age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21, prohibit sales of tobacco in pharmacies, add electronic-cigarettes to the state’s smoke-free workplace law, require child-proof caps on liquid nicotine containers and prohibit tobacco use on public and private school property.
The bill remains in the Joint Committee on Public Health. We are working with the committee to ensure the bill is reported out ‘favorably’ in the near future.
Action items:
We are looking for photos of students or young professionals under the age of 21 that want to work with us on this campaign. They would be featured on our social media page with the caption “Next Generation Smoker and their major or career choice instead as a way of putting a face to kids that the tobacco industry is trying to target and those that we can save from a life long battle with a tobacco related illness.
We are still looking for stories of past or current smokers that started using tobacco prior to age 21 to share with our lawmakers. Please connect them with Melissa via email at [email protected] or via phone at 508-270-4683.
Office of Health Equity: Despite measured progress, disparate populations continue to have worse health outcomes than the majority population on nearly every key health indicator in Massachusetts. They continue to bear an unequal burden of disease and death that is costly and unconscionable, and even worse – preventable. Along with the Disparities Action Network (DAN), ACS CAN supports codifying the Office of Health Equity as a Secretariat-level permanent, centralized place in state government to spearhead efforts to address health disparities, allowing for coordination of a wide range of relevant agencies which must play a role in eliminating disparities.
In January, this bill was filed in the House and Senate, the concurrent proposals have been assigned to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. A public hearing was held in June at which ACS CAN offered testimony in support of the bill. The next step will be for the committee to vote whether to move the bill out of committee.
An Act to Promote Quality Physical Education: Requires minimum standards for quality physical education and the assessment of the standards to increase accountability of schools to provide quality physical education.
This bill was filed in January in both the House and Senate, and both have been assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Health. A public hearing was held on July 17, and ACS CAN submitted written testimony in support of the bill. We are now waiting for the committee to release the bill.
Fiscal Year 2018 State Budget Priorities
Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Funding: Within the debate over the fiscal year 2018 state budget, ACS CAN will advocate for at least level funding for the state’s tobacco cessation and prevention program in the Department of Public Health.
In July, Governor Baker signed and returned the budget to the legislature. Some line items in the budget were vetoed. Of note to ACS CAN are:
The Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention program funding was cut by $90,000 Given the major budget deficit, this was not a surprise.
The amendment adopted in the Senate budget that would increase the tax on flavored cigars which are usually cheap and target kids with their fruity flavors was not included in the budget that went to Governor Baker.
Prostate Cancer Education, Awareness and Research: Within the debate over the fiscal year 2018 state budget, ACS CAN will advocate for continued funding for a prostate cancer education, awareness and research program within the Department of Public Health.
This line item was vetoed by 50%, cutting funding from $550,000 down to $275,000. ACS CAN is working with advocates and lawmakers to override this veto.
Pediatric Palliative Care Program: The state's pediatric palliative care network provides services like counseling and case management to children under 19 years of age "to achieve an improved quality of life and to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs experienced during illness, death and bereavement.” The law says children with "life-limiting" illnesses including cancer, AIDS and congenital anomalies can be eligible.
This Governor vetoed $800,000 of this appropriation reducing the amount from $2.6 million down to $1.8 million. ACS CAN is working with advocates and lawmakers to override this veto.
HOW DOES MASSACHUSETTS MEASURE UP? On August 3rd, ACS CAN released its 15th annual How Do You Measure Up? A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality. The report examines how states are progressing on critical cancer issues, and outlines what states can do to reduce the cancer burden. The full report is now available at www.fightcancer.org/measure. Massachusetts measured up to policy recommendations in six of the nine issue areas ranked, second only to California with seven of nine. No other state measured up in more than five issue areas.
Join ACS CAN
A minimum gift of $10 to ACS CAN will make you a member for one year. For ACS CAN membership benefits, go to https://www.fightcancer.org/content/acs-can-membership-benefits. To become a member, go to www.fightcancer.org/donate. For more information about ACS CAN Massachusetts, visit http://fightcancer.org/ma or contact Melissa Stacy, Grassroots Manager, at [email protected] or 508-270-4683.
ACS CAN Reports:
2016 Advocacy Accomplishments, Advocates in Action: Impacting the Cancer Burden www.fightcancer.org/sites/default/files/docs/resources/ACS-CAN-Advocacy-Accomplishments-Report-2016.pdf This report details ACS CAN's success at the local, state and national levels of government (see attached infographic).
The Staggering Costs of Cancer www.fightcancer.org/policy-resources/costs-cancer The first ACS CAN report to examine the costs of treating cancer underscores the need for policies that ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health coverage that includes recommended cancer prevention and treatment.
Upcoming Events:
- September 28: ACS CAN Massachusetts will host its monthly advocacy call on Thursday, September 28 at 6:30pm. Join to hear the latest updates regarding our priority issues at the state and federal levels, as well as ways you can take action over the next month. The call-in number is 1-917-727-7985 and the conference ID is 15590430. Anyone is welcome to attend!