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“The work that we’re doing is to ensure people have access to care. We want to ensure that people have early detection and prevention services. We want policies that move the needle on mortality from cancer and increased survival rate for all of our communities,” said Dr. Kimberly L. Jeffries Leonard, chair of the board of directors for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Dr.Jeffries Leonard explains why she and over 700 organization members recently gathered at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) assembled volunteers across the United States for its Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. This event places the people in front of congress members to pass bills and policies to help the battle against cancer. ACS CAN is sharing data and personal stories to relay the message that cancer is everyone’s problem and that the decisions made during this legislative session make a difference in how it is solved.

“No one is not touched by cancer. The work that we’re doing here at Lobby Day is for everyone. We are fighting for policies that enhance access to care and reduce the burden of cancer on those who have it,” said Dr. Jeffries Leonard.

The ACS CAN Leadership Summit and Lobby Day occurred on Tuesday, September 17, in Washington, D.C. The organization saw a record number of attendees, as 750 volunteers gathered for the summit, the most in its history. The organization hosts the summit because it is the annual opportunity for cancer survivors, their loved ones, and advocates to speak with congressional representatives about the importance of cancer-related policies and issues.

The biggest bill ACS CAN advocates to pass this year is the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act. This policy will allow access to cancer screenings within Medicare, particularly for older beneficiaries. The act will cover new FDA-approved multi-cancer early-detection tests that cost between $1,000 and $1500. Currently, medical screenings only test for breast, cervical, colorectal, bone, and prostate cancer. This bill expands screenings to test for other cancers. This is a massive deal, as early detection allows everyone to be proactive instead of reactive.

“Once the multi Cancer Early Detection bill is signed into law, it will bridge health disparities between African Americans, Indigenous Asian Pacific Islanders and Latinos and everyone else.,” said James Willaims Jr, Director of federal affairs for the American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network.

“There is a significant gap between our screening rates and those for everyone else. The one thing we know about cancer is when caught early, it saves lives, but the only way you can catch it early is when you screen for it. That’s why this bill must become law,” said Willaims.

The Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act must be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. It needs to be made through the Representatives Energy and Commerce committee to advance to that level. According to Williams, the bill’s markup in the Ways and Means Committee earned a vote of 38 to zero, a remarkable feat.

Alabama congresswoman Terri Sewell introduced the bill in March 2023. The bill is named after her mother, Nancy Sewell, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. The Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act is receiving overwhelming support. Willaims shared that it is filibuster-proof, with 364 cosponsors in the House and 62 in the Senate. This means two-thirds of Congress wants this to pass.

“40 years from now, we’re going to look at this bill like we look at the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. It’s one of those pieces of legislation that made an ethical change in the lives of all Americans, and I can’t wait to see it happen,” said Willaims.

What’s next for ACS CAN is more grass-roots outreach. Volunteers will travel home from Washington, D.C., to educate locals in their area about what’s at stake and what they can do about it. Dr.Jeffries Leonard and Willaims encourage everyone to contact their state representatives to push the Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Act. This bill can significantly reduce the burden of cancer for those who have it and the loved ones around them.