Hello Cancer Advocates,
Hope you’ve had a great March! With Spring right around the corner, so much action is happening in terms of cancer policies.
Let’s celebrate a few big wins from across the country:
- Wisconsin: Gail’s Law, allowing for women to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months, making it the 49th state in the Union to do so and allowing women who were previously unable to get breast screenings able to do so. This marks a major milestone in accessible cancer screenings, facilitating a brighter and healthier future for families across the state.
- Mississippi: Gov. Tate Reeves signed “Jill’s Law”, on March 16th. This law allowed for increased access to Biomarker Testing across the state. Biomarker testing is amongst the most effective forms of testing to find the best treatment options. Mississippi is the 23rd state in the union to enact such policies to increase access and will allow families to understand potential options following a cancer diagnosis.
- Louisiana: Lafourche Parish unanimously passed a local ordinance prohibiting smoking in enclosed spaces. This allows for reduced risk of second-hand smoking, a leading cause behind many cancers. Not only does it improve the health and safety of those in the community but also has posed economic benefits, namely reduced maintenance costs among other benefits.
Thank you for your hard work, and we can’t wait to see what you do in the coming months!
~Sahira, NCYET Advocacy Subcommittee Member