Virginia Cancer Action Center

Earlier this month, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1828, advancing the bipartisan proposal around breast cancer screening access to Governor Youngkin’s desk. The vote came on the heels of a new report from the American Cancer Society that revealed a shift in the burden

Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1725 with bipartisan support, advancing the effort to reform medical debt collection practices in the Commonwealth. The bill will now go to Governor Youngkin’s desk, providing him the opportunity to limit the burden of medical debt on Virginian families.

Earlier this week, House Bill 1725 was voted out of the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee. This legislation, which will protect patients from the cascading impacts of medical debt, now advances to the Senate floor for consideration. Cancer survivor Tiffany Freeman joins her fellow volunteers with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in urging members of the Senate to follow the lead of their House colleagues and vote in support of the bill.

A new report by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) found that over 70% of commercially-insured patients encountered out-of-pocket expenses for follow-up breast cancer diagnostic tests in 2023. These follow-up tests, such as a diagnostic mammogram, MRI, ultrasound or biopsy, are medically recommended next steps to determine if an individual may or may not have cancer; however, barriers like cost can keep people from getting them.