Access to Health Care

Access to Health Care

ACS CAN advocates for policies that provide access to treatments and services people with cancer need for their care - including those who may be newly diagnosed, in active treatment and cancer survivors.

Access to Health Care Resources:

Renewing Your Medicaid Coverage

May 8, 2023

Annual Medicaid Renewals are back. During the pandemic, Congress changed the rules to allow for continuous coverage protections for Medicaid enrollees. This helped people keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll during a tough and uncertain time in our country.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Wyoming

May 4, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Wisconsin

May 4, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Tennessee

May 3, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in South Carolina

May 3, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in North Carolina

May 3, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Mississippi

May 3, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Kansas

May 3, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Medicaid Expansion & The End of Continuous Coverage in Florida

May 3, 2023

What does unwinding continuous coverage have to do with Medicaid expansion?

During the pandemic, Congress put in place continuous coverage protections to ensure that Medicaid enrollees were able to keep their health coverage without needing to re-enroll.

Prescription Drug Affordability Resources:

ACS CAN Enhanced ACA Tax Credit Factsheet

October 9, 2024

This factsheet provides basic information about the enhanced ACA tax credits.

Prescription Drug Affordability Boards and the Impact on Cancer Care

October 4, 2024

ACS CAN has long fought for public policies that support the availability and affordability of medically necessary prescription drugs.

Patient Assistance Programs

November 1, 2023

Patient Assistance Programs

Comments to CMS re: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program

September 12, 2023

Survivor Views: Copay Assistance and Patient Navigation

July 18, 2022

Prescription drug costs are a significant burden on cancer patients and survivors, sometimes even leading patients to miss or delay taking prescribed medications. The latest Survivor Views survey explores the role copay assistance programs can play in reducing this burden, and also addresses patient navigation and digital therapeutics.

Survivor Views: Affordability, Prescription Drugs, & Pain

December 15, 2021

A majority of cancer patients and survivors struggle to afford cancer care and over 80% have had to make financial sacrifices to cover their health care expenses. This survey also reveals ways that affordability concerns can negatively impact care and treatment, and explores issues related to prescription drug coverage and pain management options.

Some Patients Lack Access to Lower-cost Drug Alternatives

November 3, 2020

Many cancer patients take multiple drugs as part of their treatment – often for many months or years. While drugs are not the only costly part of cancer treatment, finding ways to reduce these costs for patients and payers will significantly reduce the overall cost burden of cancer.

Survivor Views: Surprise Billing and Prescription Cost and Coverage Survey Findings Summary

December 4, 2019

This Survivor Views survey examined access to and affordability of cancer care. Survivors report insurance-related barriers to obtaining prescriptions, and lower-income respondents in particular have difficulty affording them. 24% of respondents have received a surprise medical bill, 60% of which were more than $500.

Understanding Biologic and Biosimilar Drugs

July 27, 2018

Biological drugs, commonly referred to as biologics, are a class of drugs that are produced using a living system, such as a microorganism, plant cell, or animal cell. Like all drugs, biologics are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Private Health Insurance Resources:

ACS CAN comments re: Agent and Broker Disclosures

October 14, 2021

High Deductible Health Plans, Health Savings Accounts and Cancer Patients

November 10, 2020

High deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are becoming more common in employer-sponsored insurance and the individual and small group markets. These types of plans have risks and features must be implemented carefully so they do not harm cancer patients, survivors or those at risk for cancer.

ACS CAN Comments re: 2020 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters

February 19, 2019

ACS CAN submitted comments regarding the 2020 Proposed Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters for the individual insurance market.

ACS CAN Comments on 2019 CMS Program Integrity Rule

January 8, 2019

ACS CAN submitted comments on the proposed 2019 CMS Program Integrity Rule.

ACS CAN Comments re: Health Reimbursement Arrangements

December 28, 2018

ACS CAN submitted comments regarding a proposed rule to change Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and other account-based group health plans.

ACS CAN Examination of Cancer Drug Coverage and Transparency in the Health Insurance Marketplaces

November 18, 2015

In 2015, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) analyzed coverage of cancer drugs in the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and found that transparency of coverage and cost-sharing requirements were insufficient to allow cancer patients to choose the best plan for their needs.

Cancer Drug Coverage in Health Insurance Marketplace Plans (2014)

March 1, 2014

This analysis examines two issues of particular interest to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and its members: the extent of coverage and cost-sharing for cancer drugs, and whether information on the coverage of cancer drugs can be readily obtained, compared, and understood by patients.

Costs and Barriers to Care Resources:

Gaps in Coverage Are Detrimental to Cancer Patients & Survivors

January 10, 2017

Current federal law has several provisions that help prevent individuals and families from experiencing gaps in their health insurance coverage. Coverage gaps can delay necessary care, which is particularly detrimental to cancer patients and survivors. Preventing gaps in coverage is a crucial patient protection that must be maintained in our health care and insurance system.

Strong Prevention Policies Will Reduce the Cancer Burden

January 10, 2017

Current federal law provides life-saving coverage of cancer prevention and early detection services and programs. These provisions are crucial to reducing the incidence and impact of cancer in the United States. They are also crucial in helping cancer survivors remain cancer-free and lead healthy lives.

Dependent Insurance Coverage is Critical for Young Adult Cancer Patients & Survivors

January 10, 2017

The health care law has several provisions that help prevent individuals from experiencing gaps in health insurance coverage, including the requirement that private health insurance plans allow dependents to remain on their parents’ insurance until age 26. This provision is important for keeping survivors of childhood and young adult cancer insured, and helps to ensure young adults receive preventive services and screenings. This provision is a crucial patient protection that must be a part of a health care system that works for cancer patients and survivors.

Cancer Patients Need Access to Comprehensive Health Insurance

January 10, 2017

Consumers need access to health insurance policies that cover a full range of evidence-based health care services – including prevention and primary care – necessary to maintain health, avoid disease, overcome acute illness and live with chronic disease. Any health care system that works for cancer patients must have standards ensuring that enrollees have access to comprehensive health insurance.

Bans on Lifetime and Annual Cost Caps Protect Cancer Patients

January 9, 2017

Current federal requirements prohibit most insurance plans from limiting both the lifetime and annual dollar value of benefits. This ban is one of several important patient protections that must be part of any health care system that works for cancer patients.

Medicaid Resources:

ACS CAN Comments re: Request for Information on Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP

April 18, 2022

ACS CAN submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding its 2022 Request for Information on Access to Coverage and Care in Medicaid & CHIP. Our comments address suggested improvements in Medicaid enrollment and eligibility determination, transitions of coverage, national standards for access to care, and the eventual end of the public health emergency and continuous coverage provisions.

ACS CAN Comments re: Oregon Medicaid 1115 Waiver Renewal

April 11, 2022

ACS CAN submitted comments in support of the renewal of Oregon's 1115 Medicaid waiver, including the state's proposal of continuous coverage provisions for children and adults. However, ACS CAN strongly objects to the state's proposal to limit Medicaid coverage of drugs approved through the accelerated approval process, and urges CMS to reject this part of the waiver request.

ACS CAN's comments re: Montana’s Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration

October 15, 2021

ACS CAN Comments re: TN 1115 Medicaid Waiver

September 9, 2021

ACS CAN submitted comments opposing Tennessee's proposal to fund its Medicaid program through a block grant and implement a closed formulary.

Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Waivers

January 10, 2020

An increasing number of states are seeking greater flexibility in administering their Medicaid programs. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) give states the opportunity to test innovative or alternative approaches to providing health care coverage to their Medicaid populations through Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Waivers (otherwise known as "1115 waivers"). States must demonstrate that their waivers promote the objectives of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) and CMS must use general criteria to determine whether the objectives of the Medicaid/CHIP programs are met.

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