The following is a statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Pennsylvania Government Relations Director Donna Greco:
“In 2024, ACS CAN was proud to see the Pennsylvania Legislature mobilize swiftly and in a bipartisan manner to bring the promise of precision medicine to more patients. Beginning in the new year, Act 39 of 2024 will make it so that all patients who can benefit and are insured through a state-regulated health plan will receive coverage for biomarker testing, a game changer in the fight against cancer and an essential step in accessing precision medicine treatments. Pennsylvanians also secured a victory for access to care through Act 42 of 2024, the newly enacted legislation that includes telemedicine as a covered benefit in the Commonwealth.
“This legislative session, advocates with ACS CAN are eager to see lawmakers build off the progress from last session and advance legislation to reduce barriers to lifesaving care.
“Presently in Pennsylvania, many patients are forced to navigate prohibitively high costs for their prescription drugs and cancer screenings. Increasingly high out-of-pocket expenses resulting from prostate cancer screenings and copay accumulator adjustment programs are making it so that patients cannot access lifesaving care. ACS CAN is looking to address that in 2025 with legislation to eliminate cost-sharing for prostate cancer screenings for high-risk populations and ensure third-party prescription drug copay assistance always counts toward patients’ out-of-pocket cost obligations. We ask state leaders to advance this legislation so that a person’s economic status does not determine whether or not they have the ability to detect and survive cancer.
“Soaring health care costs have made it so that patients are forced to take on medical debt and suffer through its cascading effects in order to receive basic care. In addition to supporting policies that ensure affordable access to comprehensive health coverage, ACS CAN will advocate for policies that prevent medical debt and reduce its burden on individuals and families.
“Our advocacy will extend to working patients who are not able to take time off work to focus on their care due to the state lacking a paid family and medical leave program. The threat of medical debt or job loss affects patients’ ability to treat and survive their disease. We ask state leaders to best equip patients to fight their disease, by prioritizing medical debt relief and paid family and medical leave programs for Pennsylvanians impacted by cancer and other illnesses.
“Nearly 90,000 Pennsylvanians heard the words, ‘you have cancer’ last year. State lawmakers have an opportunity to lessen the burden of a cancer diagnosis for those who will hear those words in the future by removing cost-sharing for prostate cancer screenings, making sure all copays count, providing medical debt relief and creating a paid family and medical leave program.”
To see the complete list of ACS CAN’s 2025 legislative priorities in Pennsylvania, visit fightcancer.org/PA.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.
