2024 ACS CAN Minnesota State Legislative Priorities

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Fertility Preservation: Some cancer treatments can cause infertility, and as a result, individuals with cancer may choose to preserve their fertility prior to treatment. Failure to preserve fertility is a common regret that may affect survivors’ quality of life. ACS CAN supports legislation that would provide cancer patients with health insurance coverage for fertility preservation consistent with recommended medical guidelines.  
• 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 incurred medical debt on individuals and families. 
   

Reducing the Toll of Commercial Tobacco

• Ending the Sale of all Flavored Tobacco Products The tobacco industry markets fruit and candy flavored products, including menthol cigarettes, to young people, African Americans, American Indians, the LGBTQ+ community, and other specific populations. ACS CAN supports legislation to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, flavored cigars, hookah, and smokeless tobacco.
   
• Cannabis ACS CAN does not have a position on recreational cannabis and supports the need for more scientific research on the use of cannabinoids by cancer patients, and on better and more effective therapies that can overcome the often-debilitating side effects of cancer and its treatment. However, ACS CAN supports policies to maintain strong clean indoor air, preserve local control on important public health policies, and prohibit the sale of flavored cannabis that is burned, inhaled, or vaporized.