Latest news with #AmericanCancerSocietyCancerActionNetwork
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmaker introduces bill to remove cost barriers to cancer prevention
(WHTM) — A Pennsylvania lawmaker introduced a bill that aims to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer screenings for men. House Bill 281, introduced by state Representative Jeanne McNeill (D-133), would require insurance coverage for prostate cancer screenings. The bill aims to reduce cost barriers and increase access for men at risk of developing prostate cancer. The bill would remove insurance limitations that many individuals face when attempting to receive essential screenings for prostate cancer. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S. The memo says insurers would be required to provide annual access to PSA blood tests and DREs for individuals at high risk of prostate cancer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Meeting in Lewisburg about how potential cuts to Medicaid could affect cancer patients
LEWISBURG, WV (WVNS) – American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network hosted a meeting at the Clingman Center in Lewisburg on Tuesday evening, April 29th. The goal of the meeting was to bring in locals from across Greenbrier County to discuss the importance of Medicaid. Specifically, how important Medicaid is for those battling cancer. Farmers seeking answers regarding federal cuts and frozen funds With talks in Washington about potential cuts to Medicaid, the meeting could not have come at a better time. 'Currently, there's about thirty percent with Medicaid coverage here in the state of West Virginia. That's more than one hundred and fifty thousand West Virginian's getting their healthcare through Medicaid. It's certainly a service that a lot of people rely on.' Doug Hogan, Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network A small handful of people gathered to recount their own personal stories of the importance of Medicaid. These personal stories are something Grassroots Manager Katie Rose Garden knows all too well. Here she is recalling a story about a patient named Tammy. 'She lost her husband to cancer almost a year before. Loses her husband to cancer, it's about three weeks after he passes away. She goes to get a mammogram and it turns out she has cancer as well. Medicaid saved her life.' Katie Rose Garden, Grassroots Manager of American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Despite the limited showing, the group remains unfazed. Local insurance agent partners with nonprofit to host food and supply drive for cats They said any potential cuts to Medicaid can prove disastrous for those covered under the plan. 'Typically, if a person on Medicaid receives a cancer diagnosis, that diagnosis is earlier. It's an early stage diagnosis where the probability of a successful outcome is much greater and the cost for treating the cancer is much less.' Doug Hogan, Government Relations Director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network The current future of Medicaid remains uncertain with talks still ongoing in Washington. The group urges anyone that has any concerns to contact their local state senators and representatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer survivors, advocates push Ohio Senate for preventative screening access
Apr. 29—Springfield resident and prostate cancer survivor Tom Pamer was one of many to make his way to the Ohio Statehouse this week to advocate for legislation that he hopes will help save lives. Pamer and 100 other survivors took part in the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's Ohio Advocacy Day and urged Ohio lawmakers to require all private insurers cover biomarker testing and prostate cancer screenings. The event comes as the Ohio Senate considers the changes it wants to make to the state's operating budget, a sprawling bill filled with new bills and appropriations to direct state spending over the next two years. Pamer's primary concern was with the bipartisan House Bill 33, which would require insurers to cover preventative prostate cancer screenings for men over 40 with a higher risk of prostate cancer. Pamer himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 after taking a preliminary blood test that measured the level of prostate-specific antigens, or PSA, in his system. "That is one of our asks today, that everyone is able to have their PSA test covered whether under-insured or uninsured," Pamer said. "Hopefully, then, everyone would have the same results I did: finding it early, (undergoing) early treatment, and now (there's) no evidence of disease." Prostate cancer, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, is the most common cancer among American men. Advocates were also pushing House Bill 8, which would require private insurers to cover certain biomarker tests — which help identify cancer and the best forms of treatment — if prescribed by a doctor. That bill was passed last year before it stalled out in the Ohio Senate. It was reintroduced this year by state Rep. Andrea White, R-Kettering, who told this outlet Tuesday that she'd be "thrilled" if it wound up in the Senate's budget. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer survivors head to Albany to push for better care
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A group of cancer survivors and supporters from Western New York are traveling to Albany Tuesday to meet with state leaders and ask for better cancer care across New York. The trip is part of Cancer Action Day, when people from all over the state come together to share their stories and push for new laws that could help patients and families. 'We've seen that when people from Western New York speak up and tell their stories, things really start to change,' said Dylyn Harrison, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. 'It's easy to feel like nothing you say matters, but it does — and that's why we're here.' The group is asking lawmakers to support three main ideas: Make lung cancer screening easier to get and more affordable Update the state's paid family and medical leave rules (which haven't been changed in more than 30 years) Expand help for patients navigating the health care system Harrison says one big issue is how health insurance works for lung cancer tests. 'Lung cancer is one of the top killers, but only about 19% of people at high risk are getting screened,' she said. 'Sometimes insurance will cover the first test, but not any follow-ups, and that keeps people from getting the care they need. We want to fix that.' Rhonda Hands, a 30-year cancer survivor, says lawmakers need to hear directly from people who've lived through it. 'I thank God I've been cancer-free for 30 years,' she said. 'But testing should be easy and affordable for everyone. There shouldn't be anything standing in the way.' For these advocates, the trip to Albany isn't just about policy, it's personal. They're standing up for families and patients who need a stronger system. Gwyn Napier is a reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of her work by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dominick Ruggerio, Rhode Island's longest-serving legislator, dies at 76
Dominick Ruggerio, Rhode Island's longest-serving legislator at nearly 44 years and its Senate president since 2017, died Monday, his office said. He was 76. Ruggerio, a Democrat, died at Fatima Hospital in North Providence, said Greg Pare, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Senate. He was hospitalized last week. Ruggerio announced last April that he was receiving treatment for cancer, but he still sought reelection to the Senate and won in November. In a statement, Gov. Dan McKee, a fellow Democrat, called Ruggerio 'a great friend and true public servant who dedicated his life to lifting up the state he loved.' McKee said Ruggerio 'will always be remembered for his unwavering commitment to supporting working families and strengthening Rhode Island's economy.' He directed U.S. and Rhode Island state flags to be flown at half-staff at all state facilities and buildings through the day of Ruggerio's internment. U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, both Democrats, expressed their condolences. "I will miss Donny's friendship and his unwavering advocacy for our state and the people who make it a special place,' Reed said in a statement. 'Rhode Island is better today because of Senate President Ruggerio's leadership and dedication.' Ruggerio was first elected to the House in 1980, where he served two terms before joining the Senate. He had been Senate majority leader before becoming president. As the chamber's most senior member, he was referred to as its 'dean.' He represented District 4, which includes parts of North Providence and Providence. His legislative biography says he co-sponsored initiatives to 'make it easy to do business in Rhode Island by reforming the income tax code, cutting red tape, improving access to capital, and building the skills of the workforce.' Ruggerio was a big advocate for legalized sports betting in Rhode Island, which started in 2018. He also was a leader on legislation requiring that the state be powered completely by renewable energy by 2033. McKee signed the measure into law in 2022. "It will keep Rhode Island, home to the nation's first offshore wind farm, on the forefront of renewable energy innovation. And it will help us harness the power of clean energy as a driver of economic growth and opportunity,' Ruggerio said in a statement at the time. Ruggerio also successfully sponsored bills to address the opioid epidemic. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said Ruggerio 'championed efforts to improve public health and increase access to lifesaving cancer screening tests." It inducted him into its Rhode Island Cancer Caucus in 2022. Ruggerio, who was anti-abortion, did not support legislation to preserve federal abortion protections in state law. But he said he was determined not to impose his personal views on other Senate members. Lawmakers passed the bill. Before joining the General Assembly, Ruggerio was a policy aide for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor from 1977 to 1981. He was an administrator for the New England Laborers Labor Management Coop Trust. Valarie Lawson, Senate Majority Leader, said Monday at a news conference that the Senate will be canceling all its business 'until further notice.' 'As many of you know, whether you agreed with him or not on an issue, his door was always open,' she said. 'Many times he put is own point of view aside to listen to the members of this chamber and for the good of the Senate chamber he loved.'
