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New Report: Pennsylvania Falling Short on Policies to Prevent and Fight Cancer
New Report: Pennsylvania Falling Short on Policies to Prevent and Fight Cancer
States Measured by Progress on Tobacco Control, Access to Care and Cancer Prevention
August 21, 2014 – Pennsylvania is falling short when it comes to passing policies to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer, according to a new report by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). How Do You Measure up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality evaluates each state’s activity on issues crucial to winning the fight against cancer. The report by ACS CAN, the advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, finds that Pennsylvania measured up to benchmarks in only 3 of the 12 measured areas.
“We have the tools to reduce cancer diagnoses and deaths across the country. State legislators have the opportunity to pass laws and policies that have been proven to help people fight cancer by emphasizing prevention, making affordable, quality health care accessible, curbing tobacco use and prioritizing quality of life for patients and their families,” said Diane Phillips, Director, Government Relations for ACS CAN. “Missed opportunities to pass laws fighting and preventing cancer not only limits the potential for increased state revenues and health savings, but also limits the possibilities for saving countless lives from a disease that will kill an estimated 28,670 Pennsylvanians this year.”
How Do You Measure Up? grades states on 12 policy areas: breast and cervical cancer early detection program funding; tanning device restrictions for minors; physical education time requirements; smoke-free laws; tobacco prevention program funding; tobacco tax rates and increases overtime; access to tobacco cessation services in Medicaid; increased access to Medicaid; policies to prevent and treat pain; access to palliative care and restrictions on tobacco ratings, or charging tobacco users up to 50 percent higher premiums for health coverage.
A color-coded system classifies how well a state is doing in each issue. Green shows that a state has adopted evidence-based policies and best practices; yellow indicates moderate movement toward the benchmark and red shows where states are falling short.
The report also offers a blueprint for effective legislation on matters such as effectively implementing the health care law for cancer patients and their families.
How Pennsylvania Measures Up:
Smoke-Free Law Yellow
Tobacco Tax Increase Red
Tobacco Tax Rates Green
Tobacco Prevention Funding Red
Medicaid Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Green
Indoor Tanning Device Restrictions for Minors Yellow
Physical Education Time Requirements Red
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Funding Green
Effective Pain Policy Yellow
Access to Palliative Care Yellow
Increased Access to Medicaid Yellow
Restrictions on Tobacco Rating Red
During this spring’s budget session, lawmakers had an opportunity to consider a statewide increase in the cost of tobacco products – which would be the state’s first increase in more than six years. At $1.60 per pack, Pennsylvania’s tax is only slightly ahead of the national average, while neighboring states of New York, New Jersey and Maryland have higher taxes at $4.35, $2.70 and $2.00 respectively. A 2013 study indicated that a $1 increase in Pennsylvania’s cigarette tax would increase revenue by $356.43 million in the first year and save $3.11 billion in health care costs in the long run, while also strongly decreasing cigarette use by children.
“As advocates, we have a duty to inform the public about ways to prevent and treat cancer, but our voice is not enough if state and local policymakers don’t take action to fund and implement policies and programs that we know work,” said Phillips. “The best solutions will save lives and potentially millions of dollars in health care costs, and in many cases, it would cost Pennsylvania little or nothing to do the right thing.”
Nationally, the report finds that only one state is measuring up, meaning they are meeting the benchmark in nine or more legislative priority areas measured. Forty states land in the falling behind category, meeting benchmarks in just four or fewer of the measured issues. Just 10 states fall in the middle category meeting benchmarks in five to nine issue areas.
In 2014, it is estimated that more than 1.6 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 580,000 people will die from the disease. In Pennsylvania this year, an estimated 79,920 people will be diagnosed with cancer and another 28,670 will die of the disease.
To view the complete report and details on Pennsylvania’s grades, visit www.fightcancer.org.
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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