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ACS CAN applauds expanding access to affordable health insurance

On May 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized a new rule to expand insurance coverage eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) submitted comments last year supporting the proposed rule because it would remove barriers to accessing health care services, which is critical to reducing health disparities and saving more lives from cancer.

The final rule amends the definition of “lawfully present” in the United States to include DACA recipients for the purposes of the Affordable Care Act tax credits and subsidies. However, it does not move forward with its original proposal to make DACA recipients eligible to qualify for the Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs.

“ACS CAN believes everyone, including DACA recipients, should have access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance coverage, which ensures people can prevent, detect, treat and survive diseases like cancer,” said ACS CAN President Lisa A. Lacasse. “Excluding DACA recipients from the ‘lawfully present’ definition has created unfair and unnecessary health care disparities for hundreds of thousands of individuals for over a decade. We commend HHS for taking action to reverse this health care injustice so that DACA recipients can have the peace of mind that health care coverage brings. However, we remain concerned that those with the lowest incomes will not have access to Medicaid or CHIP coverage, which has more protections for those with extremely limited incomes.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 47% of individuals likely eligible for DACA were uninsured. Under previous regulations, DACA recipients were ineligible to enroll in health insurance marketplaces, CHIP and Medicaid due to their immigration status. Now that the rule is finalized, approximately 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients are expected to enroll in coverage.

“Having comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage is a key determinant for surviving diseases like cancer. Only when all individuals have a fair and just opportunity to get and stay healthy can we achieve our vision of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone,” Lisa said.

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  • Register for virtual event to discuss cancer inequities among AANHPI people

    ​Addressing Cancer Care Barriers for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders is set for May 21.

    In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and in partnership with the Oncology Nursing Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and ACS CAN’s AAPI Volunteer Caucus are hosting a virtual event to discuss cancer inequities among AANHPI people that face stereotypes, stigma, aggregated data that mask disparities, and cultural and language barriers. The presenters will discuss how disaggregated data, representative and culturally component oncology care, and equitable and accessible patient navigation services can improve access to cancer care and cancer outcomes for AANHPI people.

    Presenters include:

    • Dr. Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN, Dean, Professor Laura Lee Blanton Chair in Nursing, The University of Texas
    • Dr. Bonny Morris, PhD, MSPH, RN, Senior Director, Patient Navigation, American Cancer Society
    • Gladys Arias, MPA, Principal, Health Equity Policy Analysis & Legislative Support, ACS CAN

    "Addressing Cancer Care Barriers for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders" is set for Tuesday, May 21, from 12 noon - 1 p.m. ET. Register at this link. 

     



  • May Advocacy Update

    ​Efforts to expand access to quality, affordable health care are in full swing, and there's much progress to celebrate.

    A message from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse

    Happy first day of May! Our advocacy efforts over the last month to expand access to quality, affordable health care have been in full swing, and there's much progress to celebrate. Our work has been timely as April marked the 7th annual Medicaid Awareness Month, and we've remained focused on advocating for access to care in the 10 states that have yet to expand Medicaid.

    The Medicaid Covers US team recently began pre-screening ACS CAN's new and insightful film, "In Due Season," to highlight the critical importance of Medicaid expansion as a step toward achieving equitable health care. Although the majority of Americans enrolled in Medicaid are White, in the states that have not yet expanded Medicaid, 60% of those caught in the coverage gap are people of color. 

    The film amplifies the lived experiences of Black Americans, featuring families affected by this issue. "In Due Season" also captures expert insight from voices like ACS CAN Board member Dr. Karen Winkfield on the history of discriminatory practices within America's health care system that continue to exacerbate health disparities for Black communities.

    ACS CAN partnered with Black Voters Matter to promote pre-screening of the film through the "Sick and Tired" bus tour, which traveled through Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida from April 19 to 25th. The tour included previews of the film, panels with local leaders, health and wellness symposiums, and storytelling booths for participants to share the impact of their experiences with lack of access to health care. The bus tour garnered media attention from news outlets in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, including a feature from ACS CAN Senior Outreach Manager, State & Local Campaigns, Tomica Smith. 

    The tour was particularly timely in Mississippi, where the potential for passing Medicaid expansion has come down to the wire at the end of their state session. There's been recent movement and a call for legislators to advance meaningful legislation. ACS CAN continues to urge lawmakers to not just pass expansion in name, but to ensure legislation will truly increase access to affordable, comprehensive health care, without erecting additional barriers. 

    A big thank you to every team member who contributed to making both the preview of "In Due Season" and the bus tour a great success! We know we are continuing to make headway thanks to our strengthened community partnerships and continued engagement with lawmakers relentlessly elevating the importance of access to care in the fight against cancer. 

    I was thrilled to celebrate this work and wins in many other priority areas during a rewarding weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina at our State Lead Ambassador (SLA) Summit. I joined 159 volunteers and team members to publicly appreciate the tireless commitment of our volunteer leaders across the country. Their efforts through direct lobbying of their elected officials, volunteer recruitment, outreach, and engagement continue to drive our impact. 

    We were also proud to celebrate our thousands of volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week in April. We posted this video across our social channels and shared a volunteer appreciation kudos post thanking our volunteers.

    I am looking forward to an eventful May. Please join us next week, May 9, at our National Policy Forum. I'm excited to see our ACS CAN Board members in two weeks for our Board meeting in Denver. The final days of May will also kick off the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, which is always an incredible opportunity to meet with our many strategic partners in person and celebrate science discoveries over this past year. 

    Thank you for your continued commitment to our public policy advocacy work.

    As part of ACS CAN’s ongoing commitment to making cancer care affordable for everyone, ACS CAN's 2024 Forum on the Future of Health Care on May 9th will focus on alleviating the burden of medical debt many cancer patients, survivors and their families face. Please register to join us in-person or virtually. 

    In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, ACS CAN, the Oncology Nurses Society (ONS) and ACS CAN’s AAPI Volunteer Caucus are hosting a virtual event: Addressing Cancer Care Barriers for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 12 pm Eastern. Please learn more and register to join us virtually.

    Cancer Votes Update

    Cancer Votes is having early success in the Maryland U.S. Senate race and Oregon Congressional District 3 race. Volunteers recently held candidate coffee chats with U.S. Senate Candidate, David Trone, in Maryland and U.S. House Candidate, Michael Jonas, in Oregon to discuss cancer policies that would further our goal of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. Additional coffee chat events are in the early planning stages for late spring and early summer. In addition, Maryland Senate candidates, Larry Hogan and David Trone, and Oregon Congressional District 3 candidates, Susheela Jayapal and Michael Jonas have signed ACS CAN's Cancer Promise, pledging their support for cancer research funding, ensuring access to affordable, quality health coverage, and ensuring access to cancer prevention and early detection services, including tobacco control.

    Event Highlights:

    National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) Annual Conference

    Today I served as a speaker for NCUIH's Annual Conference - Sustaining Traditions lunch plenary for an audience of Urban Indian Organization (UIO) representatives, Tribal leaders, nonprofits, and representatives from government agencies. ACS CAN sponsored this important conference as we strive to continue serving as a strong ally for American Indian and Alaska Native communities who carry a disproportionate cancer burden.

    National Minority Quality Forum's recent live webinar Amplifying Patient Voices for Health Equity in the Wake of the Inflation Reduction Act explored the importance of patient voices in achieving health equity and provided strategies for amplifying those voices as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to implement the IRA. Panelists included Pam Traxel, Senior Vice President, Alliance Development and Philanthropy, ACS CAN; Donna Cryer, J.D., President and Founder, Global Liver Institute; and Stephanie Dyson, Senior Vice President, U.S. Policy and Government Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb. The panel was moderated by Pamela Barnes, Director Federal Strategic Alliances, U.S. Policy and Government Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb.

    National Medical Association (NMA) Colloquium on African American Health

    ACS CAN's James Williams, Director, Federal Relations - Cancer Prevention, Early Detection, and Screening, participated in NMA’s Health Colloquium Workshop, Removing Cost Barriers to Prostate Cancer Screening with the Honorable Troy Carter, U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Carter has been a lead champion of our priority prostate cancer screening legislation, PSA for HIM.

    National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW)

    ACS CAN participated in two events for the NCBW Legislative Day. Angela Sailor, Director of Federal Strategic Alliances, Health Equity, and James Williams, led an advocacy presentation on appropriations, MCED, PSA Screening for HIM, and Screens for Cancer Act. The following day, NCBW asked members of Congress to fund cancer research and pass the PSA Screening for HIM Act, MCED, and SCREENS for Cancer Act. Nishith Pandya, Director of Federal Relations, also participated in the panel on diversity in clinical trials and discussed ACS CAN's work on this issue and why it is a priority. 

    Addressing Representation in Clinical Trials Congressional Briefing  

    In partnership with the Alliance for Cancer Care Equity (ACCE), ACS CAN hosted a Congressional Briefing: Addressing Representation in Clinical Trials. The briefing featured remarks by Congressman Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the Modernization of Clinical Trials Act, formerly named DIVERSE. ACS CAN featured panelists including Ms. Beatrice Cardenas-Duncan, Cancer Survivor and Lead Advocate for California, and Dr. Mark Fleury, Principal, Policy Development - Emerging Science.

    Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program & Prevent Cancer Foundation Honors Dr. Francis Collins

    I was thrilled to attend the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program & Prevent Cancer Foundation's reception to honor Dr. Francis Collins, former Director of the National Institutes of Health for his phenomenal impact on science and cancer. At the event, Dr. Collins announced this prostate cancer diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of screening and clinical trials. You can read his powerful OpEd which ran in the Washington Post. We wish Dr. Collins well throughout his prostate cancer treatment. An instrumental leader at the NIH, he championed robust funding for biomedical research. As he eloquently articulated that evening, early detection matters—that's why legislation like PSA For HIM is key for improving access to lifesaving screening.

    State Updates: 

    Iowa Legislature Passes Biomarker Bill 

    Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation into law that will ensure Iowans covered by Medicaid and state-regulated insurance plans now have coverage for biomarker testing when medically appropriate. Precision medicine helps patients access the right treatment at the right time, and this legislation will help reduce disparities in access to these lifesaving innovations in Iowa. We are thrilled that Iowa became the 17th state nationwide to implement ACS CAN’s model legislation. 

    ACS CAN Applauds Virginia Legislation Improving Access to Screening

    Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin signed legislation aimed at improving Virginians’ access to colorectal cancer screening. The bipartisan proposal will ensure coverage, without cost sharing, for colorectal cancer screening in accordance with the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines, including a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive non-invasive screening test. ACS CAN looks forward to the impact this legislation will have on cancer prevention and early detection in Virginia.

    Ohio Court Issues Restraining Order Against Law Prohibiting Local Tobacco Regulations

    Franklin County Court of Common Pleas has issued a temporary restraining order against enforcement of a state law prohibiting local regulations of tobacco and alternative nicotine products. The temporary restraining order blocks the law from going into effect until a preliminary injunction hearing on Friday, May 17. Recall that the tobacco preemption law was passed as part of the budget bill and Governor Mike DeWine vetoed the language, but the General Assembly overrode his veto. Preemption laws have a chilling effect on communities’ ability to pass critical public health measures including evidence-based tobacco control interventions. We will continue to work to reduce barriers to these policies that are critical to our cancer mission.

    California Rooted in Community Empowerment (RICE) Grant Developments

    ACS CAN congratulates the RICE team for their win in Emeryville, CA, which has a population of 12,887 (35.9% White, 30.3% Asian, 17.7% Black, and 9.3% Hispanic or Latino). The Council voted unanimously to pass the first reading of a comprehensive Tobacco Retail Licensing ordinance that ends the sale of all flavored tobacco, sets a minimum price and pack size for cigar products, ends the sale of all tobacco in pharmacies, allows no new retailers near youth areas, and includes a mandatory annual compliance visit and annual youth decoy operation. The council strengthened the policy at the last minute to add 90-day rechecks for stores that fail compliance visits. A second policy also passed to remove the exemption for smoking lounges.

    Federal Updates:

    Major Disappointment as Administration Indefinitely Delays FDA Tobacco Control Rules

    Last Friday, the White House announced it is indefinitely delaying finalization of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule to end the sale of menthol cigarettes, without mention of eliminating all flavors in cigars, despite an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating menthol flavoring is a serious public health risk.  ACS CAN once again calls on the White House to commit to its Cancer Moonshot goal and take meaningful action to reduce tobacco-related cancers. We will continue our work with federal, state, and local lawmakers to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.

    Patient Quality of Life Coalition Lobby Day

    ACS CAN joined 49 advocates and volunteers representing 22 states and 15 organizations with ACS CAN’s Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) on Capitol Hill for its 9th Annual PQLC Lobby Day, visiting 48 Senate and 2 House offices. Together we elevated the patient voice and advocated for the passage of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), thanked appropriators for FY24 palliative care funding, and requested that the Senate hold a markup in the HELP Committee, to be followed by a vote on the Senate floor. PQLC, a coalition led by ACS CAN, is made up of more than 40 organizations working collectively to advance the interests of patients facing serious illness by supporting policies that improve and expand access to high-quality palliative care services. ACS CAN urges lawmakers to prioritize passage of this important legislation this year to save lives.

    Patient Advocate Groups Urge the Supreme Court to Address Youth Tobacco Use

    ACS CAN joined other tobacco control groups in an amicus brief urging the US Supreme Court to take up the FDA’s appeal of a decision by the 5th Circuit en banc which struck down marketing denial orders the agency had issued for flavored e-cigarette products. The 5th Circuit decision put that circuit at odds with most other circuit courts, which have upheld similar orders. Our brief highlighted the role of flavors in addicting children to e-cigarettes and the ongoing nationwide prevalence of the problem of youth use of these novel tobacco products.

    Advocacy in the News 

    •NYT: Biden Delays Ban on Menthol Cigarettes

    •Forbes: Biden Admin Again Delays Proposed Menthol Cigarettes Ban

    •USA Today: Do cancer patients get enough time off work? Most struggle to balance finances, job duties

    •Radio Health Journal: Cancer Drug Shortage: Deciding Who Lives And Who Dies

    •CNN: Civil rights, medical groups sue FDA over ‘almost unconscionable’ delay in ban on menthol tobacco products

    •CBS News Radio: News on the Hour

    •US News: Anti-smoking Groups Sue FDA Again Over Menthol Ban Delays

    •Politico : Beating cancer used to be bipartisan. What happened?

    •Alabama Reflector : Alabama lawmakers weigh Medicaid expansion approaches in Southern states

    •WJTV: Mississippi man falls into healthcare coverage gap

    •ABC7: Activists ask California legislators to expand access to cancer services (Spanish)

    •Des Moines Register: Expand access to biomarker testing

    •WENY: A look at cancer prevention in the state budget

    •La Crosse Tribune: Linda DeGarmo: US Sen. Baldwin Brought Federal Support to Palliative Care



  • Administration delays rules to end sale of menthol cigarettes

    On Friday, April 26, the White House announced it is indefinitely delaying finalization of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed rule to end the sale of menthol cigarettes, without mention of eliminating all flavors in cigars, despite an overwhelming amount of evidence demonstrating menthol flavoring is a serious public health risk.

    "The White House fell for industry rhetoric and, as a result, public health will suffer," said Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "For the last two years, the Biden Administration has had the opportunity to take a significant step in their cancer moonshot goal to end cancer as we know it by reducing tobacco use, responsible for more than 30% of all cancer deaths. Today’s announcement that they will not take action anytime soon deals a significant blow to that goal.

    “This shocking announcement comes during the same month the White House declared as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month and days before the two-year anniversary of the proposed rules,” said Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “With 30% of all cancer deaths due to smoking, it is hard to imagine how the president can meet the goals of the Cancer Moonshot without meaningfully addressing tobacco use.

    Big Tobacco has used these products for decades to target Black communities, who, as a result, co​​nsistently report the highest prevalence of menthol cigarette use. 83.1% of Black people who smoke using menthol cigarettes, as compared to 56.5% of Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander people who smoke, 48% of Hispanic people who smoke, 41.5% of Asian people who smoke and 31.6% of White people who smoke.

    Big Tobacco continues to target youth with their cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars which are all sold in appealing flavors such as menthol, banana, mango, grape, Tropical Twist, Purple Swish and chocolate. An estimated 420,000 U.S. students currently used cigars in 2023. Youth who are Black, or Hispanic or Latino are twice as likely to regularly smoke cigars than their White peers. Citing these alarming statistics, 32 members of the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to the FDA in August supporting these new rules.

    Instead of taking these deadly products off the market, which could save as many as 654,000 lives, including the lives of more than 238,000 African Americans, over the next 40 years, according to modeling studies, the administration is giving the tobacco industry free rein to continue to deepen these disparities and addict a new, younger generation.

    “The longer the delay, the more people who get lured into a lifetime of tobacco addiction,” said Lacasse, and added: “The administration should refrain from giving deference and more time to conversations with an industry and groups carrying the message of an industry who benefits from addicting new customers, and instead rely on irrefutable evidence that prohibiting flavors is critical to reducing health disparities and ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.”

    Prohibiting menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars would help reduce tobacco initiation among youth and stimulate cessation among adults who smoke, saving lives from tobacco-related diseases like cancer. Research from the American Cancer Society examined the impact on the sale of cigarettes of a Massachusetts law that restricted the sale of all flavored tobacco products in the state and found that this action decreased the sale of menthol cigarettes, contributing to a reduction in overall cigarette sales.

    For more than a decade, ACS CAN has been urging the FDA to prohibit menthol cigarettes as part of our ongoing call to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products. ACS CAN once again calls on the White House to commit to its Cancer Moonshot goal and take meaningful action to reduce tobacco-related cancers. ACS CAN will continue its work with federal, state and local lawmakers to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products. Our ability to continue to make progress against cancer relies on implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies and programs, which prevent youth and young adults from becoming addicted to tobacco products and help individuals who currently use these products to quit.

    For more information, please visit fightcancer.org/what-we-do/tobacco-control.


  • ACS CAN to host National Policy Forum on May 9

    On Thursday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET, ACS CAN will host its 13th annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care at the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. This year’s joint in-person and virtual event will focus on the complexities of medical debt and its implications for cancer patients and their families. The photo is from last year's event.

    The free, in-person and live-streamed event is open to staff and to the public. Please register at fightcancer.org/nationalforum and share within your networks.

    Eva Stahl, Vice President of Undue Medical Debt and Michael Perry, Partner and Co-Founder of PerryUndem, will be this year’s keynote speakers. They will offer insight into the unique challenges faced by many cancer patients and survivors experiencing medical debt and the opportunities available to change policies to help prevent that debt or minimize its impact.

    ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse will extend opening remarks followed by panels of leading experts who will focus on various aspects of navigating medical debt challenges. To learn more information about each panelist, visit the event’s website.

    • Panel 1: Preventing Medical Debt – Discussion on public policy solutions necessary to prevent medical debt before it occurs.
    • Panel 2: Reducing the Impact of Medical Debt – Dialogue on how to reduce the impact of medical debt on patients, survivors, and their families by changing how debt is collected and reported, reducing interest rates, and providing patient navigation.
    • Luncheon Conversation: Diagnosis: Debt – A national reporter will share their experiences writing about medical debt in an award-winning series of investigations.
    • Spotlight on Research Conversation: Leading researchers will discuss how they approach probing questions related to medical debt.
    • Panel 3: Innovative Solutions – Perspectives on how organizations can help people with cancer and their families stay out of medical debt or deal with the impacts of debt.

    For additional information about ACS CAN’s 13th Annual National Forum on the Future of Health Care, please contact Chelsea Herman at chelsea.herman@cancer.org. View the forum’s full agenda and register to attend on the event’s website at fightcancer.org/nationalforum​.

  • ACS CAN joins Black Voters Matter for Sick and Tired Bus Tour

    ​From April 19- 25, ACS CAN is joining Black Voters Matter (BVM) to host a multi-state bus tour to spotlight Southern states that have refused to expand Medicaid eligibility. The bus tour part of ACS CAN’s ongoing advocacy work to increase policymaker knowledge on the importance of insurance coverage and Medicaid expansion’s role in healthier communities.

    The Sick and Tired Bus Tour, is an extension of BV​​M’s relaunched campaign to target the 10 remaining non-expansion states that are largely concentrated in the South and include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    Since 2022, ACS CAN has partnered with BVM as a 501c3 civic education nonprofit on outreach events in Black communities throughout Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Alabama. ACS CAN values its collaboration with BVM to help educate and engage new advocates for Medicaid expansion, health equity and its overall advocacy work toward the fight to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.

    “ACS CAN is thrilled to deepen our partnership with Black Voters Matter to call attention to the importance of Medicaid expansion and the critical role it plays in addressing long-standing, life-threatening health disparities,” said ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse. “Research continues to show one of the most significant factors in surviving a cancer diagnosis is access to comprehensive, affordable health coverage, and its long past time the 10 states that have yet to increase access to coverage through Medicaid see this reality and recognize their delay is costing people their lives."

    As part of the bus tour, ACS CAN and BVM will travel across Southern states – Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, for an “In Due Season" health equity film sneak preview and discussion, as well as community-centered health and wellness fairs.

    The Sick and Tired Bus Tour is free and open to the public. See location details below.

    April 19 - Memphis, TN | Location: Abyssinian Baptist Church - 3890 Millbranch Rd, Memphis, TN
    • ​​11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening & health and wellness fair with community resources

    April 19 - Tupelo, MS | Location: North Mississippi AgriBusiness - 1995 Pine Grove Road, Shannon, MS
    • 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening & health and wellness fair with community resources.

    April 20 - Jackson, MS | Location: T. Matthews MB Church — 3660 Fontaine Ave Jackson, MS
    • 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening & health and wellness fair with community resources, fellowship hall, food truck.

    April 21 - Montgomery, AL | Location: Stonetank Antioch Missionary Baptist Church — 6515 Old Selma Road, Montgomery, AL
    • 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT: Documentary preview screening, health and wellness fair & Sunday Service fellowship meal and discussion.

    April 22 - Atlanta, GA | Location: St. Phillip AME Church — 240 Candler Road, Atlanta, GA
    • 5:00 p.m. ET: Documentary preview screening, panel discussion focused on women’s health disparities.

    April 23 - Macon, GA | Location: Crate X Coworking Space — 551 Cherry Street, Macon, GA
    • ​4:00 - 6:00 p.m. ET: Local canvassing
    • 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET: Documentary preview screening, panel discussion, mixer for minority & small business owners, wellness checks.

    April 24 - Albany, GA | Location: C&H Event Center -– 2310 West Gordon Avenue, Albany, GA
    • 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. ET: Documentary preview screening, panel discussion, healthcare fair

    April 25 - Tallahassee, FL | Location: Neighborhood Medical Center — 872 West Orange Avenue, Tallahassee, FL
    • ​1:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET: Local canvassing, documentary preview screening, health and wellness checks, party with purpose.
    • 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET: Screening discussion led by FAMU medical students

    For more information and to join the conversation on closing the coverage gap, visit ACS CAN’s we​bsite​.

    ​

  • ACS CAN NC volunteer introduces President Biden at local event

    ACS CAN North Carolina volunteer Lori Kelley introduced President Joe Biden and shared her personal journey of navigating the Medicaid coverage gap alongside him and Vice President Kamala Harris during a recent Affordable Care Act (ACA) event at the John Chavis Community Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    Pictured above are: ACS CAN State & Local Outreach Manager Dustin Sergent; ACS CAN North Carolina Volunteer Lori Kelley; and ACS CAN Senior Outreach Manager of State & Local Campaigns Tomica Smith.

    The event took place just after the 14th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act and the first anniversary of the signing of North Carolina Medicaid expansion legislation. ACS CAN played a key role in the passage of both pieces of legislation.

    Lori, who is from Harrisburg, North Carolina, was diagnosed in 2008 with a progressive eye disease that limited her ability to function in daily activities, such as driving and going to work. After being locked out of affordable health care for 16 years, she had to delay screenings and receiving medical attention for her health issues.

    After North Carolina Medicaid expansion enrollment opened in December 2023, ACS CAN’s State and Local Campaigns Medicaid team ran a statewide Facebook advertisement campaign in North Carolina to collect stories from individuals who successfully enrolled. Lori eagerly responded to one of the ads after wondering if she would qualify for Medicaid expansion. She later applied with confidence and was thrilled to receive a letter stating she was enrolled in Medicaid.

    When the White House contacted ACS CAN to inquire if testimonials were available from individuals who were benefiting from Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, Lori’s story was one of many shared with White House personnel and she was later selected to introduce President Biden at the North Carolina ACA event. Lori’s introduction not only set the stage for President Biden’s address, but also served as a powerful testament to the resilience, courage, and determination of individuals like her who continue to advocate tirelessly for access to equitable health care.

    “Because of Medicaid expansion and the tireless advocacy work to close the gap, now I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to pay for surgery or the routine care that I need," Lori said. “I have peace of mind now. I know there are millions like me with similar stories. I am truly grateful for the blessing that this is and continues to be for myself and so many others.”

    As a mother of three and grandmother of six, Lori's presence on such a significant platform exemplifies the invaluable role of storytelling in advocacy and policymaking. By sharing her personal experience, she not only elevated the conversation surrounding health care reform, but also amplified the voices of countless others who find themselves in similar circumstances.

    Visit pbs.org to watch the ACA event. To learn more about how ACS CAN is working to close the Medicaid coverage gap for all, visit Medicaid Covers US | American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

  • April Advocacy Update

    ​A big thank you to our ACS CAN team and volunteers who make our success possible!

    A message from ACS CAN President Lisa Lacasse

    In just the first three months of the year, ACS CAN’s team and volunteers around the country have done tremendous work to advance our cancer priorities. Congress finally passed the FY 24 appropriations bill on March 23, which included increases to funding for cancer research and prevention. Our tremendous grassroots advocacy was powered by our outstanding volunteers directly contacting Members of Congress 124,526 times via email, phone calls, and tagging them on social media to advocate for our priorities related to FY24 funding! ACS CAN’s social media channels generated 860,000+ impressions and our Fight Cancer: Make Time appropriations-focused ad campaign was successful, driving 32 million impressions and 92,000+ clicks to our website.

    We are proud that our campaign and grassroots efforts yielded mission impact through increased funds for cancer research and cancer programs including: 

    • A $300 million increase in funding for the NIH’s base budget, including a $120 million increase in discretionary funding for the NCI.
    • A $500,000 increase for CDC cancer screening and prevention programs.
    • Level funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) at $1.5 billion. 
    • At NIH, a first-time appropriation of $12.5 million in dedicated funding for the development of palliative care research and a new $6 million initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes.
    • Within the Department of Defense, $110 million for the Prostate Cancer Research Program.

    Amidst a difficult budget year, we are pleased to see Congress meet this pivotal moment to ensure lifesaving treatments and advancements continue by building on our nation’s fiscal commitment to the fight against cancer. A big thank you to our ACS CAN team and volunteers who made this success possible!

    Though the progress made towards reducing the cancer burden is undeniable, much work remains. Ahead of the President’s State of the Union Address last month, we asked the Administration to finalize the FDA’s proposed rules to eliminate menthol in cigarettes and all flavors in cigars as continued delays put more lives at risk. I was pleased to see the President renew his commitment to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone during his address. We share the President’s belief that cancer priorities including the Affordable Care Act, supporting veterans exposed to toxins, and prescription drug access are as crucial as ever. However, we know that ending cancer as we know it will take more than commitment; now is the time to act. We will continue to push until the FDA’s rules are finalized.

    March also marked the 14th anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, for which ACS CAN was a leading advocate. To mark the occasion, we urged Congress to preserve the critical patient protections guaranteed by the ACA by maintaining access to cost-free preventive care and making enhanced Marketplace subsidies permanent before their expiration date at the end of the next year.

    In March I also had the honor of participating in a briefing on Capitol Hill, hosted by ACS CAN and US Pharmacopeia focused on drug shortages. Although not a daily headline anymore, ACS CAN continues to keep this critical patient access issue visible in order to push toward long-term policy interventions that will create solutions. We heard from panelists including ACS CAN’s Mark Fleury, PhD, ‪Principal, Policy Development - Emerging Science, who shared important insights. As we know from ACS CAN’s Survivor Views Survey, one in ten cancer patients in active treatment have been impacted by drug shortages. Alongside our partners who are part of a drug shortage task force, we are committed to advocating for solutions that prevent future shortages and improve access to critical medicines for all patients.

    I am looking forward to the work that’s to come in April and I appreciate your continued commitment.

    As part of ACS CAN’s ongoing commitment to making cancer care affordable for everyone, ACS CAN's 2024 Forum on the Future of Health Care on May 9th will focus on alleviating the burden of medical debt many cancer patients, survivors and their families face. 

    Please register to join us in-person or virtually. 

    In Case You Missed It:

    ACS CAN Represented at Protecting Our Care in the Courts Panel 

    ACS CAN participated in Protect Our Care’s panel discussion on Protecting Our Care in the Courts, highlighting three key legal battles that threaten Americans’ health care: Braidwood v. Becerra, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, and the cases seeking to overturn the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Mary Rouvelas, Managing Counsel and Legal Advocacy Director at ACS CAN spoke on the Threats to Preventive Care Panel, and was joined at the event by Former Solicitor General of the United States Don Verrilli and other leading legal, economic, and health experts. Watch the replay.

    Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated’s Annual Delta Days in the Nation’s Capital

    ACS and ACS CAN hosted a panel on “Addressing the Cancer Burden in the Black Community” at the 35th Annual Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated Delta Days in the Nation’s Capital event. Tawana Thomas Johnson, ACS Senior Vice-President and Chief Diversity Officer spoke at the event as well Tammy Boyd, JD, ACS CAN Vice President, Federal Advocacy and Strategic Alliances, to a group of over 1,200. The panel focused on advocating for public policies at the federal level to help reduce disparities in cancer and improve health outcomes for Black Americans. Ashley Etienne, former Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris, served as our moderator, and executives from the National Medical Association and Pfizer were featured speakers on the panel.

    Congressional Briefing: Cancer and Obesity

    ACS CAN hosted the Congressional Briefing: Cancer and Obesity with the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA). Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), moderated the virtual briefing. Rep. Ruiz, Raul (D-CA-25), gave opening remarks. Presentations were delivered by Dr. Lauren Teras, Senior Scientific Director, Epidemiology Research American Cancer Society; Dr. Pascale C. Jean, Assistant Director for Nutrition and Health Cancer Moonshot Project, Health Outcomes Division, OSTP, The White House, and others.

    State Updates

    Indiana Expands Critical Access to Biomarker Testing

    ACS CAN celebrated Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's signing of SB273 into law, requiring public and private insurers to cover biomarker testing. Indiana is the 15th state to expand access to this critical testing that is helping extend and improve lives by tailoring care and treatment to a person’s specific type of cancer. ACS CAN will continue working with lawmakers to remove barriers to precision treatment.

    West Virginia Senate Rejects Flawed Biomarkers Legislation

    ACS CAN applauds the West Virginia Senate for rejected flawed biomarker testing legislation, which was supposed to allow West Virginians to access the testing they need but fell short of this goal after amendments that stripped the bill of any meaningful improvement in access. ACS CAN and 36 other organizations opposed the legislation.

    Alabama Passes Legislation to Protect Access to IVF

    Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation into law that will protect access to IVF, allowing some clinics to resume treatment immediately. Fertility preservation care is essential for more than two-thirds of adolescents and young adults newly diagnosed with cancer, and ACS CAN is glad to see Alabama take this step toward preserving access to this critical care.

    Florida Legislature Takes Critical Step to Expand Access to Biomarker Testing

    The Florida legislature passed a bill expanding access to biomarker testing, a key tool used by healthcare providers to provide patients with targeted cancer therapies. The bill requires coverage for biomarker testing when supported by scientific and medical evidence under Florida Medicaid and state employee health insurance plans. We urge lawmakers to push further to require coverage for the private market. ACS CAN will continue working with lawmakers to secure access for all Floridians.

    Georgia Legislature Holds First-Ever Hearing on Medicaid Expansion

    The Georgia Senate Regulated Industries Committee held a hearing on Medicaid expansion, the first time the Georgia legislature has held a hearing on this topic. Legislators from both parties expressed substantial support for the prospect of building on existing progress made towards closing the coverage gap in Georgia. Over the past month, ACS CAN put out digital, video, and radio ad content advocating for measures to close the coverage gap, which generated over 3 million impressions statewide. ACS CAN is well-positioned heading into the 2025 legislative session, and will continue working with our partners on the ground in Georgia, including Georgia First and BRIDGE coalition, to push this work forward.

    Idaho Postpartum Bill

    Legislation that would extend Medicaid coverage for up to 12 months postpartum passed the House and the Senate and is awaiting signature by the Governor. This is a positive step toward improving the health outcomes of women and their children. Ensuring individuals and families have access to health coverage for a full year postpartum is a critical

    Federal Updates

    ACS CAN Praises Advancement of Critical Legislation to Improve Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings in the House

    The House Energy and Commerce Committee marked up the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2028 and continue to expand access to expand access to critical breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment in underserved and underinsured communities nationwide. The Senate version of the bill, S.1840, was marked up by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in late 2023. ACS CAN urges Congress to pass this legislation to help reduce the unequal cancer burden and save more lives.

    Biden Cancer Moonshot Announces Expanded Coverage for Patient Navigation

    The Biden Cancer Moonshot announced the expansion of coverage for patient navigation services in plans from seven health insurance companies, as well as actions being taken by more than 40 cancer centers and community oncology practices across the country to help patients be reimbursed for these critical services. ACS CAN advocated for reimbursement for non-clinical navigation in Medicare, which took effect on January 1, 2024, a meaningful first step toward expanded and sustainable access to critical services for patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. Patient navigation can help reduce barriers to care, and the President’s announcement takes us further towards increasing access to it.

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Finalizes Rule to Prohibit Asbestos

    The EPA announced a final rule to prohibit use of asbestos, a known cancer-causing agent. ACS CAN applauded the EPA for taking a first step to ban asbestos in the U.S. We continue to urge Congress to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023, that would protect Americans from all types of asbestos. 

    Legislation Supporting Indian Health Service

    We are continuing to work to elevate the voices of Indigenous and Tribal communities. As part of the FY 24 appropriations bill, we were pleased to see legislation that provides $10.88 billion for Tribal programs across the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service. Congress also cleared its second minibus appropriations package (H.R. 2882), which included funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The legislation provides $6,000,000 for the creation of an Initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes to support efforts including research, education, outreach, and clinical access related to cancer in Native American populations. The agreement further directs the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) to work with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to locate this Initiative at an NCI-designated cancer center demonstrating partnerships with Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations to improve the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers among Native Americans, particularly those living in rural communities.

    Advocacy in the News 

    • Bloomberg Law: Obamacare Case Threatens Sweeping Loss of Preventative Care

    • CBS Mornings: Partisan Gridlock in Congress contrasts with bipartisan efforts in some statehouses

    • The Lancet: Alabama Supreme Court’s “extrauterine children” decision alarms oncologists and fertility experts

    • El Nuevo Herald: We Must Increase Access to Cancer Screenings in Florida (Spanish)

    • WRTV IN: Governor Holcomb signs bill that will require insurance to cover biomarker testing

    • WV Watch: Biomarker testing bill fails, Cancer Society hopes to try again

    • Telemundo: Giant Lungs At The Missouri Capitol Aim to Raise Awareness About Cancer (Spanish)

    • Denver Post: Colon cancer is increasing in younger Coloradans even as death rate drops for people over 55

    • PBS: Mississippi is closer than ever to expanding Medicaid. What are the barriers?



  • Congress passes spending bill

    ​ACS CAN campaign results in progress toward cancer research and screening funding amid difficult FY24 budget cycle.​

    On March 23, Congress passed and President Biden signed into law the Fiscal Year (FY) 24 appropriations bill, which included modest funding increases for cancer research and screening and prevention programs critical to reducing the cancer burden.

    Through an intensive grassroots and legislative advocacy campaign, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urged Congress to prioritize cancer research and prevention and early detection. Amid a tough budget cycle, this tremendous advocacy work resulted in the following being included in the spending bill: 

    • A $300 million increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) base budget, including a $120 million increase in discretionary funding for the NCI.
    • A $500,000 increase for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancer screening and prevention programs.
    • Level funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) at $1.5 billion.
    • At NIH, a first-time appropriation of $12.5 million in dedicated funding for the development of palliative care research and a new $6 million initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes.
    • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), $110 million in funding for the Prostate Cancer Research Program.

    Throughout its advocacy campaign, ACS CAN volunteers directly contacted members of Congress 124,526 times leading up to the vote in support of the funding bill. ACS CAN also engaged in the following campaign activities: 

    • ACS CAN volunteers sent 123,191 emails to lawmakers and made 590 in person visits to U.S. Senate and U.S. House offices. ACS CAN also ensured 6,207 phone calls were placed into congressional offices in support of the appropriations campaign.
    • ACS CAN launched a national Fight Cancer: Make Time ad campaign in Washington, D.C., to highlight ACS CAN’ ask to increase funding for NIH, NCI, and CDC programs. Ads ran in several publications including the New York Times, Punchbowl, Politico and Axios. This resulted in social media driving nearly 32 million impressions and more than 92,000 clicks to ACS CAN’s website.
    • ACS CAN volunteers tweeted to lawmakers 958 times, in addition to organic social content on ACS CAN’s National social media channels, which generated more than 860,000 impressions.
    • ACS CAN-led coalition One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) hosted several lobby days with more than 235 meetings with lawmakers, including with congressional leadership. OVAC also ran ads that garnered more than 1.2 million impressions and 6,000 clicks to OVAC content.
    • ACS CAN drove 64 national and regional media hits and 65 letters to the editor to elevate the cancer voice.

    “We appreciate Congress’ continued support in prioritizing vital funding for cancer research in the face of significant budget constraints and are extremely grateful for new funding initiatives at NIH to support palliative care and improve cancer outcomes for Native Americans,” said ACS CAN CEO Dr. Karen E. Knudsen. “Unfortunately, the fiscal constraints coupled with the end of mandatory funding for Cancer Moonshot places overall funding levels behind last year and well below necessary levels to continue pace in progress in the fight against cancer.

    “We can’t afford to lose momentum,” Dr. Knudsen added. “We call on Congress to advance an overall funding agenda that allows for robust, sustained increases in funding for NIH, NCI and CDC to ensure the strong and meaningful fiscal growth necessary to truly accelerate tomorrow’s cures and lead us to a future where the cancer burden is significantly reduced for everyone.”

    ACS CAN will continue to advocate for an increase in cancer research and prevention and early detection program funding for the FY25 appropriations bill. For more information on ACS CAN’s official statement, visit fightcancer.org.
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