MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Deb Nevels was awarded (ACT!) Lead of the Year by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) for her exceptional commitment to advocacy work and making cancer a national priority.
This week, Congress failed to advance a bipartisan year-end health care package that would have made a big difference in the fight against cancer. The bill included language based on the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act (House)/ Medicare MCED Screening Coverage Act (Senate) and the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, which are key priorities for cancer patients and their families.
Public health and civil rights advocates celebrate the revival of the effort to end the sale of menthol cigarettes in New York City, coming later today when City Councilmember Rita Joseph will introduce legislation to reduce the heavy toll of menthol cigarettes on New Yorkers’ lives and lungs. Intro 1152 would prohibit the more than 5,000 licensed tobacco retailers in New York City from selling menthol cigarettes. The legislation is being championed by No More Menthols NYC-- a diverse, citywide campaign of civil rights and health advocates, including community groups, faith leaders, public health organizations and others.
This week, New Jersey lawmakers approved legislation to improve access to biomarker testing with a unanimous vote by the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Assembly Bill 4163 now awaits a vote on the Assembly floor. The Senate advanced identical legislation (Senate Bill 3098) in the Senate Commerce Committee last week, which now awaits further consideration by the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. Advocates with the New Jersey Biomarker Testing Coalition are hopeful that the bills will receive the necessary support to secure swift passage in the new year.
Today, the House released text of the FY25 Continuing Resolution and year-end health care package which includes language based on the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act (House)/ Medicare MCED Screening Coverage Act (Senate).
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.
The Denver City Council voted 11-1 Monday evening to end the sale of most flavored tobacco products within city limits. While the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and its team of advocates, including cancer survivors and patients, are encouraged by the decision, the legislation includes an exemption for flavored hookah tobacco products which ACS CAN does not support.
Earlier today, Senate Bill 3098 was unanimously voted out of the Senate Commerce Committee. This legislation, which aims to ensure that biomarker testing is covered by Medicaid and all other state-regulated insurance plans when patients need it, now advances to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee for further consideration. In October, the Assembly Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee approved identical legislation (Assembly Bill 4163), which now awaits a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the American Lung Association, and American Heart Association commend the Dallas City Council's recent amendment to the city’s comprehensive smoke-free ordinance to include e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and other electronic smoking devices. This significant update reflects the council's ongoing commitment to safeguarding public health. It instills a sense of security in the community to know that the council is dedicated to creating a safer environment for all Dallas residents.
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.