The Pennsylvania Legislature passed and Governor Shapiro certified the 2024-25 budget—the contents of which reflect a step in the right direction in the effort to end cancer as we know it for everyone.
To mark this important step, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) responded with the following statement from Pennsylvania Government Relations Director Donna Greco:
“If we are truly serious about limiting the burden of cancer for Pennsylvanians, we have to take a comprehensive approach that starts with prevention, prioritizes early detection and limits the financial hardship imposed by disease. Thankfully, the 2024-25 state budget included sustained provisions to curb tobacco use and improve screening rates, ACS CAN is hopeful that, moving forward, lawmakers continue to seize opportunities to serve patients across the cancer continuum, including addressing Pennsylvanians’ medical debt.
“Despite strides in curbing tobacco use over the last several decades, tobacco’s grip on Pennsylvanians remains firm and highly destructive. While the tobacco prevention and cessation program was funded at the same rate as last year, due to overall declining resources from the Master Settlement Agreement fund, this will likely result in a decrease in dollars going toward tobacco prevention and cessation and is far below what the CDC recommends Pennsylvania spend on tobacco control. The fact-based prevention and cessation programs equip people with the tools to stop using tobacco—or never start. As Big Tobacco has been working hard to addict future generations with e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, the need for funding of tobacco control programs has never been greater. ACS CAN is hopeful that lawmakers will recognize the critical work of these programs and increase funding next year.
“Where we cannot wholly prevent cancer, we can catch it early through programs like the Pennsylvania Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (PA BCCEDP). Patients were heartened to see the state budget reflect that. We at ACS CAN are confident that the sustained $2.563 million funding allocation for the PA BCCEDP will go a long way toward detecting cancer early and therefore lowering cancer mortality rates, especially for under- and uninsured age-eligible adults for whom rates of breast cancer screening are 50% lower than those of insured age-eligible adults.
“Despite the best efforts—of patients, their physicians and state lawmakers—approximately 90,000 Pennsylvanians will be newly diagnosed with cancer in 2024. As we endeavor to end cancer as we know it for everyone, we must recognize that the high costs of cancer, even for those diagnosed early, can spiral and become toxic very quickly. Medical debt pervades the cancer experience, and families are drowning in it while trying to access lifesaving treatment. ACS CAN was disappointed to see that Governor Shapiro's proposed investment to alleviate medical debt for many Pennsylvanians was not included in the final budget. We look forward to working with lawmakers in the future to prevent disease from resulting in financial hardship for patients.
“Every Pennsylvanian should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect and survive cancer. ACS CAN will continue to advocate for policies that build on the progress and fill in the gaps of the 2024-25 state budget. In doing so, we hope to further limit the impact of disease on Pennsylvanians and end all suffering and death from cancer.”
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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.
