ACS Press Release: House Members Must Stand up for Cancer Patients and Reject Any Medicaid Cuts in Latest Budget Proposal
This week, Congress will vote on a budget bill that includes $715 billion in Medicaid cuts—putting health coverage for over 8.6 million Americans at risk. Among those affected: cancer patients and survivors who rely on Medicaid for life-saving care.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is urging lawmakers to reject these cuts, warning they would increase the number of uninsured, disrupt cancer treatment, and reduce access to screenings and prevention. The fallout would raise healthcare costs and strain public health systems nationwide.
What’s at Stake
$715 billion in proposed Medicaid cuts
8.6 million people could lose coverage
Disrupted care for cancer patients
Reduced access to screenings and prevention
Higher costs for states and hospitals
ACS CAN's Response
ACS CAN has rallied over 100,000 messages to Congress and delivered 30,000+ petition signatures urging lawmakers to protect Medicaid. A national ad campaign launching this week further spotlights the human cost of these cuts.
Call to Action
Cancer doesn’t wait—and neither can we. Congress must act now to protect Medicaid and preserve access to care for millions of Americans. If lawmakers pass these cuts, they’re turning their backs on cancer patients and survivors when they need help the most.
Your voice matters. Call or email your U.S. Representative today and urge them to vote NO on Medicaid cuts. Let them know that cutting health coverage is not only dangerous—it’s unacceptable.
How to Contact Your Representative
Visit house.gov/representatives to find your member of Congress
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative’s office
Use ACS CAN’s advocacy tool at fightcancer.org to send a message instantly
Together, we can protect Medicaid and ensure that no one fighting cancer has to go without care.
Read ACS CAN’s full statement below to learn more and take action now.
ACS Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the reconciliation bill this week which includes drastic, $715 billion cuts to Medicaid that will result in at least 8.6 million people losing health insurance coverage, including cancer patients and survivors. If passed and implemented, these cuts will increase the number of uninsured people nationwide, raise overall health care costs and negatively impact state budgets. Most importantly, these reductions will result in more people not being able to access health care, which has been shown to be one of the most important predictors to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is leading efforts nationwide to call on lawmakers to reject cuts to this lifesaving program. ACS CAN volunteers and cancer advocates have contacted members of Congress more than 100,000 times and delivered more than 30,000 petition signatures this year urging Congress to protect Medicaid. ACS CAN is also launching a national ad this week, highlighting the life-threatening impact these cuts to Medicaid would have on cancer patients nationwide.
The below is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of ACS CAN:
“Increasing the number of uninsured, which these cuts will do, will result in ripping health care away from cancer patients and survivors, including children with cancer. This is unacceptable. The full House must show they won’t stand for this outcome and vote against cuts to Medicaid and any actions to erect barriers to accessing health coverage on the Marketplace when they vote on the reconciliation bill this week. If they don’t stop this bill, it will lead to more suffering and death from cancer.
“If the proposed cuts to Medicaid pass, people living with cancer could have their care interrupted or stopped completely, and others would lose access to regular cancer screenings and prevention, which would be an enormous setback in our fight against cancer.
“Congress is considering these cuts to Medicaid at the same time it is taking no action to extend access to affordable Marketplace plans ahead of a crucial expiration date. This one-two punch would terminate coverage for millions of people on Medicaid while also making it more difficult and more expensive to enroll in a plan on the Marketplace. The legislation sets the stage for the expiration of the enhanced ACA tax credits, which have made health coverage more affordable for millions of Americans, and limits enrollment periods and eligibility for the credits. These proposals are designed to cause coverage loss and dismantle access to care nationwide and must be stopped.
“The bill before the full House this week has dire consequences for cancer patients, survivors and all those at risk of developing the disease. ACS CAN urges the House to hear the voices of their constituents calling on them to protect access to health insurance for those with no other affordable health care options and vote against any cuts to Medicaid in any form, including work requirements, which has been proven to be a failed policy intervention.”
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This blog was reviewed by Dr. Sourabh Kharait.
This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment plan, hydration strategies, or diet. The information provided here is based on general insights and may not apply to individual circumstances.
