Press Room

Share

Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Boost Tobacco Prevention Funding and Pass Legislation to Expand Access to Care

As the 2025 legislative session gets underway, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize improving access to cancer care and increasing funding for tobacco control programs to ease the burden of cancer

January 9, 2025

LANSING, MI – “As the 2025 legislative session gets underway, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges legislators to prioritize improving access to cancer care and increasing funding for tobacco control programs to ease the burden of cancer in Michigan. 

“As lawmakers consider Michigan’s budget this legislative session, ACS CAN urges the legislature to increase funding by $5 million to bring funding for tobacco prevention and programs that help those already addicted quit to $9.6 million. With nearly 32% of cancer deaths in the state being attributable to smoking, a well-funded, fact-based program to help people quit tobacco is needed to reduce the burden of cancer. Furthermore, as Big Tobacco has been working hard to addict future generations with e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, the need for a substantially funded tobacco prevention program has never been greater.

“ACS CAN is also asking lawmakers to prioritize passing copay accumulator legislation to ensure Michiganders receive the total value of prescription drug assistance to afford their treatments. Many patients face high out-of-pocket costs for their prescription drugs, and copay assistance programs are critical to helping patients access the needed therapies. Fighting cancer is hard enough; lawmakers should do all they can to make paying for the treatment less of a burden. 

“Over 64,000 Michiganders heard the words, “you have cancer” last year. State lawmakers have an opportunity to reduce these numbers by investing in programs that reduce tobacco use and lessen the burden of a cancer diagnosis for those who will hear those words in the future.”
  
 

More Press Releases AboutAccess to Health Care, Tobacco Control, Michigan

Media Contacts

Michelle Zimmerman
Associate Director, Regional Media Advocacy
[email protected]
Cell:740.525.9577

Related Press Releases

January 8, 2025

Patient Navigation Could Help NYC Achieve Goal of Reducing Cancer Deaths by 20% by 2030

The following is a statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) New York City Senior Government Relations Director Michael Davoli:

“Late last year, Mayor Adams laid out a goal of reducing deaths from cancers that can be detected early through routine screening by 20% by 2030. His HealthyNYC initiative might be viewed as overly ambitious but we at ACS CAN believe it is possible to achieve, should city leaders look in the right direction. Patient navigation is that right direction. It is one of the most promising solutions towards achieving this goal, and cancer survivors throughout the city are eager to see it actualized by the Adams administration through an improvement in New Yorkers’ access to patient navigation.

Read More
January 8, 2025

Cancer Advocates Urge Montana Lawmakers to Protect Health Care Access

HELENA, Mont. – Tens of thousands of Montanans are counting on lawmakers to protect their access to health care as business convenes this week in the state capitol.
 

Read more
January 8, 2025

Advocates Set Sights on Improving Access to Cancer Care, Reducing Burden of Disease for Maryland Patients in 2025

The following is a statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Maryland Government Relations Director Lance Kilpatrick:

“In 2024, Maryland state lawmakers heard from advocates across the disease spectrum and from every corner of the state, who united together to send a resounding message: improve access to lifesaving medication. Though the legislature did not advance the proposal to prohibit the use of copay accumulator adjustment programs, advocates are hopeful that lawmakers won’t miss the same opportunity in 2025.

Read more