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Access to Health Care Press Releases

September 13, 2023

American Cancer Society Statement: American Cancer Society Ready to Play a Lead Role in Providing Patient Navigation Training and Certification Standards

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), ACS’ advocacy affiliate, continues to promote policies that expand sustainable access to patient navigation to better support cancer patients. As part of this effort, ACS CAN is urging CMS to finalize a proposed policy as part of a recent payment rule that would allow Medicare to implement a reimbursement strategy that will ensure payment for patient navigation services delivered by professionally trained and certified navigators. ACS CAN also joined with patient and provider groups  in a second letter to emphasize the critical importance of navigation reimbursement to facilitating this critical service.

July 11, 2023

Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) Reintroduced, Marking Critical Step in Improving Patient Quality of Life

Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced S. 2243 Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). The bipartisan bill would create a national public education and awareness campaign to educate patients and providers about the availability and benefits of palliative care, expand federal research regarding palliative care, including pain and symptom management, and establish palliative care education and training programs for doctors, nurses and other health professionals.