AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK, INC.

Access to Care FY25 Budget Resolution. Advocate to protect Medicaid from cuts as part of the FY25 Budget resolution and reconciliation process. Advocate for the inclusion of the enhanced premium tax credits as part of the package. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). ACS CAN actively monitors implementation of the Inflation Reduction Acts Medicare Drug Price negotiation provisions to ensure cancer patients have access to costly prescription drugs. ACS CAN also supports the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which allows Part D enrollees to spread their out-of-pocket costs over the plan year. Health Care Affordability Act, H.R.247, S.46. House and Senate bills would permanently extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits. Help CoPays Act S.864; Help Ensure Lower Patient Copays Act. These bills would require health insurance plans to apply certain payments made by, or on behalf of, a plan enrollee toward a plan's cost-sharing requirements. Specifically, plans must apply third-party payments, financial assistance, discounts, product vouchers, and other reductions in out-of-pocket expenses toward the requirements. Safe Step Act. This bill requires a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2025, S.1261. This bill extends coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Telehealth Modernization Act. Modifies requirements relating to coverage of telehealth services under Medicare and permanently extends telehealth flexibilities first authorized during the public health emergency. Association Health Plans Act, H.R.2528. This bill would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to treat association health plans as employers. Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act. This bill would allow employers to offer standalone telehealth benefits to all employees. Self-Insurance Protection Act, H.R. 2571. This bill would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exclude from the definition of health insurance coverage certain medical stop-loss insurance. Preserving Telehealth, Hospital, and Ambulance Access Act. This bill allows employers to offer stand-alone telehealth benefits to all employees. This includes employees who are eligible for enrollment in their employer's group health plan. Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025. This bill prohibits the manufacture, process, use, and distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos or any mixture or article containing commercial asbestos. Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act. To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage from imposing cost-sharing requirements with respect to diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventative Services Act of 2025, H.R.2319, S.1157. This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services working with the Department of Defense, to conduct an interagency review to evaluate the status of and identify opportunities for research on women and lunch cancer preventative services. Health Disparities Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, H.R. 842, S. 339. Legislation to improve access to new and innovative cancer screenings for Medicare beneficiaries by creating a pathway to allow Medicare to initiate coverage of multi-cancer tests following FDA approval if a clinical benefit is shown. Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS for Cancer) Act, H.R. 2381. Reauthorizes the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) through 2030 to provide the program greater flexibility in providing access to lifesaving screening, diagnostic, and treatment services and continue its innovative work aimed to reduce disparities and advance health equity in breast and cervical cancer. Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening for High-Risk Insured Men (PSA Screening for HIM) Act, H.R. 1300, S. 297. Legislation to remove cost sharing of PSA testing for those at the highest risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act, H.R.1406. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the coverage of additional lung cancer screening tests under the Medicare program. Data Equity. Legislative and regulatory funding to support the collection of detailed demographic data toward reducing disparities in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Childhood Cancer Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research Reauthorization Act of 2022 (STAR) Act. Continued implementation and funding of the Childhood Cancer STAR Act to promote the development of new, safer therapies for children with cancer. Our appropriations request includes $30 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative. Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act, S.752, H.R.1509. Legislation that alleviates these burdens for families and providers by facilitating coordination across state lines and clarifying the process by which state Medicaid programs can cover specialized treatment regardless of where the child lives and where their care is received. Give Kids and Chance Act of 2025, S.932, H.R. 1262. Legislation that would accelerate pediatric cancer treatments and expand access to live-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases, spur drug development for pediatric rare diseases, improve outcomes for patients, and close gaps in pediatric drug research. Preserve Medicaid Coverage for Children and Families. Advocate to protect Medicaid for children with cancer. For these families Medicaid plays an especially critical role as a safety net. In many states, a child is eligible for Medicaid and CHIP coverage upon receiving a childhood cancer diagnosis, providing necessary and timely access to quality, uninterrupted care. Quality of Life Palliative Care Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). Legislation to facilitate access to palliative care and coordinated care management. Palliative Care Research Funding. Funding to focus and expand national research programs in palliative care at the National Institutes of Health. Specifically, ACS CAN is working to include funding for palliative care research in the FY26 LHHS Appropriations bill. Patient Navigation for People with Cancer. Legislation and policies to increase access to patient navigation for people with cancer, prioritizing policies that create sustainable funding to ensure access to patient navigation services across the cancer continuum. Patient Navigation Assistance Act. This bill would require state Medicaid programs to provide patient navigation services for enrollees. Federal Health Care Programs Increased Funding Levels for Cancer Research and Prevention. Ensure continued progress in the fight against cancer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) cancer programs, including the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2025, H.R.2319, S.1157 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Defense, to conduct an inter- agency review to evaluate the status of and identify opportunities for research on women and lung cancer preventive services. Department of Defense Cancer Research Funding. DOD's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. Cancer Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Act. This bill prohibits the manufacture, process, use, and distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos or any mixture or article containing commercial asbestos. Clinical Trials Clinical Trial Modernization Act. Increase access to clinical trials for all persons with cancer to participate by reducing barriers to enrollment. Barriers may include ancillary (non-medical) costs, such as transportation and lodging, and remote access to trials, particularly for people who are underrepresented, including certain racial and ethnic groups, older adults, rural residents, and those with limited incomes. Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act. Legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain compensation to clinical trial participants.

Issues regarding expanding the availability of the charitable deduction for non-itemizers. Issues respecting charitable giving and life income planning, issues regarding taxation of charitable organizations, and issues regarding economic relief for nonprofit organizations. Issues related to stimulus for nonprofit organizations and increasing charitable giving. Clinical Trial Modernization Act, H.R. 8412. Increase access to clinical trials for all persons with cancer to participate by reducing barriers to enrollment. Barriers may include ancillary (non-medical) costs, such as transportation and lodging, and remote access to trials, particularly for people who are underrepresented, including certain racial and ethnic groups, older adults, rural residents, and those with limited incomes. Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act, H.R.7090, H.R. 7418. Legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain compensation to clinical trial participants. Health Care Affordability Act, H.R. 247, S. 46. House and Senate bills would permanently extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Issues relating to smoking cessation, age of sale of tobacco products, tobacco taxes, graphic warning labels, product regulation, and smoke-free environments.; Issues relating to FDA regulation of flavors, electronic cigarettes and cigars

FY25 Budget Resolution. Actively advocate to protect Medicaid from cuts as part of the FY25 Budget resolution and reconciliation process. Advocate for inclusion of the enhanced premium tax credits as part of the package. FY25 and FY26 House Labor, Health and Human Services legislation. ACS CAN advocates for increases in cancer research and prevention, including NIH, NCI, CDC DCPC, and OSH funding. FY25 Defense Appropriations for cancer programs with CDMRP. ACS CAN advocates for cancer research funding within CDMRP and funding for the Initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes through NCIs coordination with NIMHD. FY25 and FY26 Defense Appropriations for cancer programs with CDMRP. ACS CAN advocates for cancer research funding within CDMRP. FY25 VA Appropriations for PACT Act Funding. ACS CAN advocates for full funding for the PACT Act. FY25 AND FY26 Interior Appropriations for Indian Health Services funding. ACS CAN advocates for increased funding for health with a focus on cancer funding. FY25 and FY26 Agriculture and FDA Appropriations for issues related to drug shortages and tobacco. ACS CAN advocates for funding for the FDA, for provisions to address drug shortages, and on tobacco policy including issues related to the FDA regulation of flavors, electronic cigarettes, and cigars.

Bridge To Medicaid Act: Bill would extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits to low-income Medicaid enrollees in the coverage gap. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). ACS CAN actively monitors implementation of the Inflation Reduction Acts Medicare Drug Price negotiation provisions to ensure cancer patients have access to costly prescription drugs. ACS CAN also supports the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which allows Part D enrollees to spread their out-of-pocket costs over the plan year. Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2025, S.1261. This bill extends coverage of telehealth services under Medicare. Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, H.R. 842, S.339. Legislation to improve access to new and innovative cancer screenings for Medicare beneficiaries by creating a pathway to allow Medicare to initiate coverage of multi-cancer tests following FDA approval if a clinical benefit is shown. Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention Act, H.R. 140. To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the coverage of additional lung cancer screening tests under the Medicare program. Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act H.R.1770, S.2477. This bill expands Medicare coverage to permanently include services provided by a pharmacist, including incidental services and supplies, related to testing, vaccines, and treatment for COVID-19, influenza, and certain other illnesses. Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act, S.752, H.R. 150. Legislation that alleviates these burdens for families and providers by facilitating coordination across state lines and clarifying the process by which state Medicaid programs can cover specialized treatment regardless of where the child lives and where their care is received.

Clinical Trial Modernization Act. Increase diversity in access to clinical trials and make it easier for all persons with cancer to participate by reducing barriers to enrollment. Barriers may include ancillary (non-medical) costs, such as transportation and lodging, and remote access to trials, particularly for people who are underrepresented, including certain racial and ethnic groups, older adults, rural residents, and those with limited incomes. Harley Jacobsen Clinical Trial Participant Income Exemption Act. Legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income certain compensation to clinical trial participants. Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Act. This bill prohibits the manufacture, process, use, and distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos or any mixture or article containing commercial asbestos.

Defense Appropriations. ACS CAN advocates for cancer research funding within CDMRP.

Issues relating to Indian Health Services and the Congressional Native American Caucus