ACS CAN Comments re: Removing Medical Debt from Credit Reports
ACS CAN submitted comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau strongly supporting the proposal to prohibit medical debt from appearing on credit reports.
Prescription Drug Affordability Boards and the Impact on Cancer Care
October 4, 2024
Addressing the costs of cancer care is crucial to accomplishing the mission of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) to end cancer as we know it for everyone. ACS CAN has long fought for public policies that support the availability and affordability of medically necessary prescription drugs.
In recent years, as means of reducing spending, federal and state governments have increasingly focused on enacting prescription drug pricing legislation. At the federal level, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allows Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs directly. These negotiated prices, termed as the Maximum Fair Price (MFP), will go into effect in 2026, with an increasing number of drugs – including cancer drugs - negotiated each year. At the state level, an increasing number of legislatures are enacting Prescription Drug Affordability Boards (PDABs) to recommend policy solutions to lower or limit spending on prescription drugs.
For cancer patients, affordability and access are equally critical to ensuring they receive the best treatment to survive their disease. This paper examines how PDAB policies may impact cancer patients’ access to critical medications.