New York State Gets Mixed Reviews on Cancer-Fighting Public Policies

ALBANY, NY – August 9, 2018 – New York State must act when it comes to implementing policies and passing legislation to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer. According to the latest edition of How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality,  New York measured up to policy recommendations in five of the nine issue areas. The report was released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

“This new report shows that we must do more to reduce suffering and death from cancer. But we have the power to make a difference for New Yorkers immediately by implementing proven cancer fighting policies,” said ACS CAN New York Government Relations Director Julie Hart. “This year alone in New York, 110,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer. We owe it to them and everyone at risk of developing the disease, to do what we know works to prevent cancer and improve access to screenings and treatment. This report shows lawmakers a legislative path forward to improve cancer prevention efforts, curb tobacco use, prioritize the quality of life for patients and their families and increase access to critical health coverage.”

How Do You Measure Up? rates states in nine specific areas of public policy that can help fight cancer, including increased access to care through Medicaid, funding for cancer screening programs, smoke-free laws, cigarette tax levels, funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs, cessation coverage under Medicaid and restricting indoor tanning devices for minors. The report also looks at whether a state provides a balanced approach to pain medication and if it has passed policies proven to increase patient quality of life.

“We are seriously concerned with New York’s low level of funding for the tobacco control program,” said Hart. “New York received a failing grade of red because funding for this crucial program is woefully low.” 

“Sadly, tobacco companies are still making a killing off New Yorkers as smoking kills 28,200 adults each year.  Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in New York for both men and women.  In 2018 an estimated 13,190 New Yorkers will be diagnosed with lung cancer and an estimated 8,490 will die from the disease.  We have seen a small decrease in the adult smoking rate in the past year and currently, 14.2 percent of New York adults smoke.”

New York improved its grades this year as lawmakers passed legislation to prohibit the use of dangerous indoor tanning devices by those under 18. ACS CAN looks forward to implementation of this measure once signed by Governor Cuomo.

Additionally, the report offers a blueprint for how New York can work within the current federal health care law on state-based approaches to improve access to affordable and adequate health coverage for cancer patients and their families. It outlines opportunities to improve prescription drug formulary transparency, protect patients from the adverse impacts of 1115 waivers and increase access to care through Medicaid—and details the negative financial and emotional impact if New York fails to take action in these areas. Currently 34 states, including New York. have increased access to health coverage through their state’s Medicaid program, as allowed through current law.

Passing and implementing the policy recommendations in the report would not only save lives in New York, but also save millions in long-term health care costs and in some cases would even generate additional, much-needed revenue.

A color-coded system classifies how well a state is doing in each issue. Green shows that a state has adopted evidence-based policies and best practices; yellow indicates moderate movement toward the benchmark and red shows where states are falling short. 

How New York Measures Up:

Increased Access to Medicaid                                                                     Green

Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Funding                Green

Cigarette Tax Rates                                                                                       Green

Smoke-free Laws                                                                                          Green

Indoor Tanning                                                                                              Green

Access to Palliative Care                                                                              Yellow

Pain Policy                                                                                                      Yellow

Medicaid Coverage of Tobacco Cessation Services                                   Yellow

Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program

Funding                                                                                                           Red                                                                                                                              

“As advocates, we have the opportunity to work with our state legislators on implementing policies and programs that prevent and treat cancer,” said Hart “Together, we can build stronger, healthier communities and ensure New Yorkers have access to measures that prevent disease before it occurs, ultimately saving more lives from cancer.”

Nationally, the report finds that increased access to health coverage through Medicaid is the most met benchmark, with 34 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, having broadened Medicaid eligibility to cover individuals under 138 percent of the federal poverty line. Smoke-free legislation is the second-most met benchmark with 25 states, in addition to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, considered “doing well.”

This year’s report also highlights a significant trend: in 2015, there were fewer than 80 state legislative proposals introduced related to pain management and opioid issues nationwide; in 2018, there have been more than 470 state legislative proposals introduced across the country regarding these same issues. Hanging in the Balance: A Special Section on the Impact of Pain Policy evaluates whether New York is implementing balanced pain policies and takes a deeper dive into how states can reduce opioid abuse while ensuring patients who legitimately need these drugs maintain access to them. Many cancer patients and survivors need pain medication to live and complete even the most basic day-to-day tasks—but across the country, the wave of state legislation meant to address opioid abuse has had unintended consequences, making it harder for people with cancer or chronic diseases to access legitimate pain care.

To view the complete report and details on New York’s grades go to www.fightcancer.org