Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care

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Access to Health Care

COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the significant barriers to affordable health care that cancer patients have long faced. While relief packages and proposals to date have worked to address affordability of COVID-specific testing and treatment, policymakers must also tackle hurdles that cancer patients face like removing the red tape of prior authorization and step therapy, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and ensuring cost-sharing assistance directly benefits patients. There has been a great deal of research and investment in effective therapies that allow people fighting cancer to survive and live longer. Cancer patients need Congress to act quickly to remove hurdles to quality care.

56% of cancer patients and survivors are worried about being able to afford their treatment

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Prior Authorization Reform Passes Both Chambers, Cancer Advocates Eagerly Await Governor’s Signature

April 8, 2025
North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. -– Prior authorization reform legislation cleared the House on Tuesday and state cancer advocates look forward to the North Dakota State Senate concurring and Gov. Kelly Armstrong signing Senate Bill 2280 into law. For the more than 4,500 North Dakotans who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025,

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

Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Introduced in the House   

March 26, 2025
National

The U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services for Cancer Act of 2025. The legislation would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Senate Approves Co-pay Accumulator Reform Despite ‘Do Not Pass’ Out of Human Services, Bill Heads Back to Appropriations

March 25, 2025
North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Senate on Monday passed House Bill 1216 on a 30-14 vote, setting aside a “Do Not Pass” by the Senate Human Services Committee and sending the bill back to Senate Appropriations for review and approval of amendments. The original bill passed the house on

Remove Hurdles to Cancer Care Resources

Spikes in Cost Increase the Burden of Affording Cancer Care

November 3, 2020

Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to spikes in their health care costs because many expensive diagnostic tests and treatments are scheduled within a short period of time, so cancer patients spend their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum quickly. These costs can be difficult to manage over the course of a year, and most monthly budgets simply can’t afford these large bills. 

High Deductible Health Plans Cause Extreme Spikes in Cost

November 3, 2020

Most patients experience spikes in their health care costs around the time of a cancer diagnosis as they pay their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. For patients on high deductible plans, this spike can mean bills due for several thousands of dollars within one month.

Overall Cancer Costs are Rising

November 3, 2020

The U.S. spent approximately $183 billion on cancer-related health care in 2015. This represents a signification portion of the total health care spending in the U.S. And it is expected to keep growing. By 2030 cancer-related health care spending is expected to reach nearly $246 billion.