
Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors
Cancer survivors have expressed concerns and questions about COVID-19, the coronavirus, and how they may be at higher risk due to their cancer history. Here are some resources about COVID-19 generally, and its impact for cancer survivors specifically. NCCS is seeking answers from public health experts on the coronavirus and its impact on cancer patients and survivors. Please leave a comment [...]

ACA Update Jan 19, 2018 | Funding for CHIP and Community Health Centers Hangs in the Balance as Gov’t Shutdown Looms
The federal government will shut down tonight at midnight if Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill before then. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was up for reauthorization four months ago, but because of budget disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on how to pay for the program, they have yet to come to an agreement. The House passed a continuing resolution, a short-term spending bill, that would fund [...]

What Caught Our Eye: GOP Targets Employer Mandate, Hospitals Create Non-Profit Drug Company, Sex After Cancer, “Paperwork Paralysis”
What Caught Our Eye is our week-in-review blog series, where we recap the cancer policy articles, studies, and stories that caught our attention. “Obamacare didn’t get repealed — so why did the uninsured rate still go up?” — The uninsured rate went up in 2017, new Gallup data shows — the first time this has happened since the Affordable Care Act’s coverage expansion took effect. This works out to an estimated 3.2 million fewer Americans [...]

ACA Update Jan 12, 2018 | Trump Admin Moves to Allow Medicaid Work Requirements; CHIP Extension Would Save Gov’t Billions
Earlier this week, NCCS’ CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso and Public Policy Manager Lindsay Houff hosted a Facebook Live health care policy update. They discussed legislative priorities for 2018 that impact cancer survivors and how you can help us advocate. On Thursday, the Trump administration released a 10-page memo outlining directions about how states can change Medicaid to include work requirements. Jane Perkins, legal director [...]

What Caught Our Eye: “Resolutions of a Cancer Doctor;” BRCA Doesn’t Affect Survival; Medicaid Work Requirements; Cancer Death Rate Drops Again; and More
What Caught Our Eye is our week-in-review blog series, where we recap the cancer policy articles, studies, and stories that caught our attention. — “Trump’s secret plan to scrap Obamacare” — Early last year as an Obamacare repeal bill was flailing in the House, top Trump administration officials showed select House conservatives a secret road map of how they planned to gut the health law using executive authority. The March 23 document [...]

ACA Update Jan 5, 2018 | Where the ACA Stands and What Changes to Health Care Lie Ahead in 2018
Not surprisingly, 2018 has started out with a bang and there are significant health care changes already in the works or coming down the pike. In this week’s Affordable Care Act Update, we lay out these changes and how they impact cancer survivors. At the end of December, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included the repeal of the individual mandate. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 13 million fewer [...]

What Caught Our Eye: ‘Vital’ Survivorship Care; Trump Admin’s Skimpy Health Plans; Overscreening for Cancer; 2018 Cancer Trends; and More
What Caught Our Eye in cancer news this week. — “Trump’s Move to Make Skimpier Health Plans More Available Threatens to Undermine Obamacare” — The Trump administration moved Thursday to further loosen regulations on health insurance plans, taking a modest step toward the president’s oft-stated goal of rolling back requirements imposed by the Affordable Care Act that many Republicans blame for high premiums. [...]

ACA Update | How the Newly-Signed Tax Bill Affects Patients, and a Thank You to Patient Advocates Across the U.S.
Early Wednesday morning, the House and Senate passed the Republican tax plan, and the bill was signed into law by the president on Friday. NCCS monitored the tax bill closely as it contains several provisions that will impact health care. Namely, it eliminates the individual mandate, which the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated will result in the loss of health coverage for 13 million Americans and an increase of 10% in premiums. [...]

ACA Update | December 15, 2017 – Last Day of ACA Open Enrollment, House and Senate Strike Deal on Tax Bill
Today is the last day of open enrollment for the ACA for 2018 plans. Most people can find plans for less than $75 a month. If you are auto enrolled into a plan because your insurer exited the market, you are allowed more time through a special enrollment period. If you have questions or need any help signing up, call 1-800-318-2596. This week, the House and Senate continued to conference – or negotiate the differences between [...]

ACA Update | December 8, 2017 – As Tax Bill Negotiations Continue, Sen. Collins’ Legislative Demands Not Likely to Be Acted on This Year
It has been a little over a week since the Senate passed their tax reform bill. As the chambers continue to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate versions, a great deal of uncertainty remains as to the final product, especially as it pertains to health care provisions in the bill.

ACA Update | December 1, 2017 – Senate Plans to Vote Tonight on Tax Bill that Repeals Individual Mandate
The Senate on Thursday evening delayed a final vote on the tax bill due to “deficit concerns.” However a vote is expected to occur today, as Senate leaders announced they believe they have the votes necessary. Things fell apart on Thursday when the parliamentarian ruled that a trigger (an increase in taxes if economic growth goals were not met) did not adhere to Senate rules. Senator Corker and others had conditioned their support on [...]

