2025 Pennsylvania Legislative Priorities

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold public policies. Lawmakers are vital to defeating this disease. In 2025, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the Pennsylvania General Assembly in advancing three priority areas: ensuring access to quality care, cancer prevention and early detection, and reducing the toll of tobacco. We ask for your support of the following fact-based policies:

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

Prostate Cancer Screening:

ACS CAN will support legislation that removes barriers to Pennsylvanians’ access to prostate cancer early detection and treatment. This includes the alignment of prostate cancer testing with national guidelines and removing costs for high-risk patients.

Prescription Drug Affordability:

ACS CAN supports legislation which restricts the use of copay accumulator adjustments in health insurance plans. We will also advocate for legislation that ensures third party prescription drug copay assistance is counted toward patients’ out-of-pocket cost obligations.

Reduce Patient Medical Debt:

ACS CAN recognizes the impact of medical debt on people with cancer, caregivers, and their families. In addition to supporting policies that ensure affordable access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, ACS CAN will advocate for policies that prevent the occurrence of medical debt and reduce the impact of medical debt on individuals and families.

Paid Family and Medical Leave:

ACS CAN supports legislation to establish a paid family and medical leave program for Pennsylvania workers. This legislation would ensure all working cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers have access to paid family and medical leave that allows them to take time off to attend to their own or a loved one’s care without losing their job or income.

Patient Navigation:

ACS CAN will work to improve Pennsylvanians’ cancer outcomes through patient navigation. In 2025, we will work in coalition with partners and patients to increase access to patient navigation.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening:

ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding of $2.563 million for Pennsylvania’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, within the Department of Health. This program serves low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women across the state, connecting them to lifesaving screening.

Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding:

ACS CAN will work to maintain funding for fact-based, statewide tobacco prevention and cessation programs through the Tobacco Settlement Fund. These funds will allow the program to continue its efforts to help people quit smoking and to prevent the next generation from becoming addicted to tobacco products.

Smoke-free Air:

ACS CAN will work to remove exemptions in Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act to prohibit all smoking, including e-cigarettes and marijuana, in all workplaces, including bars and casinos.

For more information, contact:

Donna Greco, Pennsylvania Government Relations Director, ACS CAN
[email protected]