Access to Health Care

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Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care. From cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies to the latest breakthroughs in treatment, everyone should have access to the care that could prevent cancer and save their life.  In addition, ensuring that low-income working families have access to affordable health insurance is proven to reduce overall health care costs. 

We are working in every state and in Congress to expand health care options and protect existing laws that help patients get true access to the care they need. 

People without health insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a late stage, when the disease is harder to treat, more costly and more difficult to survive.

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National

Take Action: Oppose Medicaid Cuts that Children with Cancer Rely On

Cindy is living proof that Medicaid saves lives from cancer. “Medicaid saved my life and helped keep my family from going bankrupt.” Urge Congress to oppose Medicaid cuts that 1 in 3 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S., like Cindy, rely on for life-saving care.

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Latest Updates

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Cancer Advocates Excited for Possibilities to Improve Breast Cancer Screening Access, Celebrate Senate’s Passing of HB 1283

April 1, 2025
North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. –– A week after receiving a “do not pass” in committee, House Bill 1283 passed the full Senate on Monday behind strong Senate voices who took a stand on behalf of North Dakotans who might need additional breast cancer screenings beyond mammograms. HB 1283, sponsored by Rep. Karen

Lawmakers Take Critical Step to Revolutionize Cancer Treatment in North Carolina

April 1, 2025
North Carolina

North Carolina lawmakers have taken a critical step in efforts to reduce the cancer burden by introducing House Bill 567 . If passed, the legislation would allow more North Carolinians to access biomarker testing, which has become an increasingly important part of cancer care. Patients who are diagnosed with

ACS CAN Warns Against Dangerous Farm Bureau Bill

April 1, 2025
Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is part of a coalition of 30 organizations warning lawmakers about Senate Bill 84 and House Bill 477, which would allow the sale of substandard and dangerous health plans by the Alabama Farmers Federation or ALFA. In response,

Cancer Survivors to New Jersey Lawmakers: ‘Put Patients First,’ Protect against Threats to Patient Access to Lifesaving Medication

March 27, 2025
New Jersey

Earlier this week, the New Jersey State Assembly voted to advance a bill that seeks to create more stability for patients. The proposal (Assembly Bill 5217) would curb an unfair insurance practice that makes critical medication more expensive and access unpredictable. With its passage in committee, advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) are hopeful that the full Senate and Governor Murphy see the bill’s momentum as a call to action to take the final steps to pass and enact the necessary reforms.

Access to Health Care Resources

Trapped: America's Crippling Medical Debt Crisis

October 30, 2023

ACS CAN teamed up with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and RIP Medical Debt to conduct a national survey on the impacts of medical debt and high health care costs. Read a summary of the results.

Group Letter on Comparative Effectiveness Considerations for Selected Oncology Drugs

October 2, 2023

ACS CAN and partner organizations provided comments on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Considerations for Selected Oncology Drugs.

ACS and ACS CAN Letter to CMS on Rx Negotiation List

September 14, 2023

ACS and ACS CAN provided comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the list of Part D drugs selected for the price negotiation program authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).