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
What is your state doing to improve patient quality of life?
August 3, 2017
Treating cancer involves more than just treating the patient’s disease. Patients also need palliative care, a medical specialty that can provide cancer patients and survivors with an added layer of support and an improved quality of life. Patients could have less pain during treatment, better coordinated care among doctors and emotional support for them and their caregivers. Studies show that when palliative care is used to proactively address the many side effects of cancer, patients are most satisfied and health care costs go down.
For patients to benefit from palliative care, they and their families need to be aware of the services and be able to access them from their health care provider. ACS CAN has created model state legislation that establishes a Palliative Care Advisory Council made up of state experts to help build palliative care programs. In just four years, the model language or similar bills have passed in 20 states! What is your state doing to promote palliative care? Find out in ACS CAN's How Do You Measure Up? Report.