The following is a statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Maryland Government Relations Director Lance Kilpatrick:
“In 2024, Maryland state lawmakers heard from advocates across the disease spectrum and from every corner of the state, who united together to send a resounding message: improve access to lifesaving medication. Though the legislature did not advance the proposal to prohibit the use of copay accumulator adjustment programs, advocates are hopeful that lawmakers won’t miss the same opportunity in 2025.
“Presently in Maryland, many patients are forced to navigate prohibitively high costs for their prescription drugs as a result of copay accumulator adjustment programs, which make it so that the prescription drug copay assistance that patients receive from third parties does not count toward their out-of-pocket obligations. ACS CAN is looking to address that in 2025 with legislation to ensure third-party prescription drug copay assistance always counts toward a patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. We ask state leaders to advance this legislation so that a person’s economic status does not determine whether or not they have the ability to survive cancer.
“In the coming year, ACS CAN will also be looking to lawmakers to be on the forefront among states to improve access to patient navigation. The role of a patient navigator in cancer care is to connect patients with the help and support they need and find ways to overcome issues that keep people from getting access to quality cancer care. At its heart, patient navigation is a patient-focused and community-centered approach to care that helps ensure patients don’t fall through the cracks. It is revolutionizing how we treat cancer. The survivors and advocates within ACS CAN’s network are eager to improve awareness of patient navigation with the hopes that lawmakers act to determine strategies which will expand access in the future.
“Lastly, given the threats to Maryland’s Clean Indoor Air Act through efforts to establish cigar and cannabis smoking lounges, ACS CAN will be mobilizing to protect workers’ right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke—data affirm this, and workers have come out against any attempt to strip them of their right to a healthy work environment. In 2025, cancer survivors from across Maryland will be standing alongside workers to fight any concessions to the status quo.
“Over 36,000 Marylanders heard the words, ‘you have cancer’ last year. State lawmakers have an opportunity to lessen the burden of a cancer diagnosis for those who will hear those words in the future by ensuring all copays count, improving access to patient navigation and protecting smoke-free work environments.”
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.