ACS CAN Looks Forward to Working with the Legislature to Improve Quality of Life and Access to Care for Cancer Patients in Kentucky
As lawmakers dive into the new year, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is asking that legislators support legislation that will ease the burden of cancer in Kentucky. The latest edition of the ACS CAN’s How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality shows that Kentucky can do better when it comes to implementing legislation to prevent and reduce suffering and death from cancer.
ACS CAN is advocating for improved quality of life for cancer patients through palliative care, which improves quality of life for both the patient and their family. It is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work with the patient’s primary care physician and others to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment to help patients get well faster and easier.
ACS CAN thanks Sen. Julie Raque Adams for recently filling palliative care legislation to establish a state advisory council, consumer guide and education program in Kentucky that would increase palliative care initiatives and maximize their effectiveness.
In addition, ACS CAN supports prior authorization and surprise billing reform to improve access to care in Kentucky.
Current prior authorization practices for prescription drugs can cause unnecessary delays and sometimes deny access to care for Kentuckians. Cancer patients should not face unnecessary barriers to receiving their medications. ACS CAN applauds Sen. Ralph Alvarado for filing legislation to streamline the prior authorization process in order to make it a timelier and more transparent process for patients and their family members.
Insured cancer patients can be subject to surprise billing for their medical services they thought were covered by insurance when they seek emergency services or go in for a scheduled procedure, and, unbeknownst to them, are treated by an out of network provider. Battling cancer is hard enough for a patient and unexpected medical bills shouldn’t add to the burden.
ACS CAN volunteers look forward to meeting with lawmakers during ACS CAN’s annual advocacy day on February 21. ACS CAN encourages individuals, businesses and organizations that are interested in these issues to reach out to ACS CAN to get involved in the fight against cancer.