WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 14, 2011 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) recently filed comments with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the draft National Prevention Strategy developed as directed by the Affordable Care Act. The comments build on an already strong recommendation in an effort to reduce disparities in access to proven prevention services by strengthening infrastructure in underserved communities for better delivery of preventive services, developing and supporting training so health professionals can promote prevention and wellness and adequately funding prevention research on medically underserved populations. Prioritizing wellness and prevention will make great strides in reducing the burden of cancer and other chronic diseases in the U.S. Reducing barriers to evidence-based cancer screenings and tobacco cessation treatment as well as community-based prevention initiatives, such as tobacco prevention programs and promotion of nutrition and physical activity, will help transform a system that previously waited to treat until people got sick into one that focuses on disease prevention and management and improved wellness and quality of life.
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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Alissa Havens or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5772 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]