Advocacy

Advocacy by sharing our experience

We advocate for policies that improve access to cancer care for all patients and quality of life of patients and their families. Our efforts support advancing the following:

• Advance Better Treatments through increased investments in research
• Improve the Quality of Life for cancer survivors through precision treatment
• Stand Up for Kids with cancer by removing red tape on out-of-state care
• Improve Access to Clinical Trials for everyone and at locations with easier patient access
• Make Cancer Care Affordable by implementing caps on out-of-pocket costs
• Ensure Access to Quality Insurance for people with low income and/or disabilities

And we are actively advocating for future cancer issues:

• Improve treatment options for kids (Federal): This addresses some of the most pressing research needs of children and families with cancer, including extending vital research incentives, ensuring children with cancer continue to have access to the newest cures, and guaranteeing pediatric studies happen in a timely manner.
• Continuing support for CPRIT (Texas): The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) invests to expedite innovation in research and enhance the potential of breakthroughs in cancer prevention and cures.
• Minimize impact of medical debt on families (Federal and Texas): Medical debt comes from healthcare costs (rising insurance premiums, insurance denials, high deductibles, drug copays, etc.) and hidden costs (travel, parking, lost wages, childcare, etc.). Medical debt is a significant burden for 1 in 4 Texans, including 4 million non-elderly adults. This serves to prohibit reporting of medically necessary debt on credit reports so Texans can easily obtain a job, buy a home, and have financial stability.
• Accelerating kids’ access to care across state boundaries (Federal): This targets to reduce red tape delays, allowing children with cancer and other complex medical needs who are covered by Medicaid quicker access to time-sensitive care.
• Preserve Medicaid Coverage for Children and Families (Federal): Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide quality, affordable healthcare coverage for more than 37 million children, or roughly half of all children in the US.

Recruit Advocates

We actively seek advocates who can share their stories with their lawmakers at state and federal levels to highlight the barriers faced by cancer patients and their families. We also recruit volunteers who can use their knowledge and resources to advance these efforts. 

We attend webinars and meetings with stakeholders – lawmakers, house and senate committee members, pharmaceutical companies, hospital social workers, caregivers and patients – to bring awareness around clinical trials, and available patient services at hospitals and through various charitable/philanthropic organizations.