Share

Reducing Health Disparities Press Releases

January 16, 2025

Study: Cancer Rates Rising in Women; Advocates Urge Arizona State Lawmakers to Support Cancer Fight in 2025

PHOENIX, ARIZ. - A new report released by the American Cancer Society on Thursday revealed a shift in the burden of the disease from men to women. Cases of cancer are declining in men while diagnoses are rising in women, specifically younger women. A continued drop in cancer mortality was also noted in the report, but alarming inequities in cancer rates persist, most notably among Native American and Black people. The report coincides with the beginning of the 2025 legislative session and presents Arizona state lawmakers an opportunity to work with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of ACS, to support cancer prevention, treatment, and access to care.

December 17, 2024

Public Health Groups Applaud Fifth Circuit Ruling to Protect LGBTQ+ Patients from Health Care Discrimination

Public health groups are applauding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for upholding the non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the case of Neese v. Becerra. The court vacated a lower court ruling based on the plaintiffs’ lack of standing in the case, which challenged protections in the ACA for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) patients receiving health care services.

December 10, 2024

District Court Decision Temporarily Blocks Critical Access to Affordable Health Insurance for DACA Recipients in 19 States

On December 9, the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota granted a preliminary injunction in the case of Kansas v. United States. This decision temporarily blocks the Final Rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which expands insurance coverage eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients in 19 states. 

October 2, 2024

Patient Groups Urge District Court to Uphold Expansion of Critical Access to Affordable Health Insurance for DACA Recipients

Washington, D.C. – October 2, 2024 – Today, patient groups representing millions of individuals with serious diseases and health conditions filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief strongly urging the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota to deny a motion for a stay and preliminary injunction in the case of Kansas v. United States of America.

May 15, 2024

New Bipartisan Legislation Would Make It Easier for Cancer Patients to Participate in Clinical Trials 

Federal legislation that would make it easier for all cancer patients to participate in clinical trials was introduced today in the House. Sponsored by Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) and Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), the Clinical Trial Modernization Act is bipartisan legislation that would increase access to clinical trials by helping remove cost and geographic barriers to patient participation.

March 26, 2024

Hawaii Cancer Survivors, Patients Rally at State Capitol in Effort to Reduce Health Disparities

 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) volunteers from across Hawaii met with their legislators at the Hawaii State Capitol Thursday to urge them to support HB1301. If enacted, the policy would enable funding for a multiethnic cohort study by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in the Hawaii Pacific region.