Ohio Action Center

The Power of Advocacy

The Accomplishments of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 2007 - 2009

Cancer Research

• ACS CAN has led the fight to increase critical cancer research funding, continually pushing Congress for additional grants to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• Due in part to our volunteers’ efforts, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provided $10 billion in new funds for the NIH, with $8.5 billion of this grant going directly to research.
• An additional $2 million was also granted to the NIH through Fiscal Year 2009 budget appropriations.

Smoke-free Law

• Since January 1, 2007, 11 states have implemented new laws that require smoke-free workplaces, and/or
  restaurants, and/or bars. Montana and Utah also added bars to their existing smoke-free laws.
• North Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin have passed smoke-free laws that will take effect in 2010.
• As of today there are 31 states in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that require 100% smoke-free workplaces, and/or restaurants, and/or bars.

Tobacco Taxes

• Since January 1, 2007, 24 states and the District of Columbia have raised their cigarette taxes, some doing so on multiple occasions.
• The average increase in state cigarette tax over the last three years was 58 cents. The average tax nationwide is now $1.30 per pack.
• On February 4, 2009, the president signed legislation to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through a 62-cent increase in the federal cigarette tax, saving more than 900,000 lives and preventing 1.9 million children from becoming lifelong tobacco users.

FDA Regulation of Tobacco

• Legislation that allows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the content and advertising of tobacco products was finally signed into law in 2009.
• The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gives the FDA the authority to restrict the manufacturing, marketing, labeling, and distribution of tobacco products, and to limit harmful marketing ploys that target our youth such as placing tobacco ads near schools and selling flavored cigarettes.
• As a result, an estimated ten million children may never pick up their first cigarette.

Michelle's Law

• With the help of Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) advocates nationwide, “Michelle’s Law” was unanimously approved by Congress and signed by the president in 2008. The law took effect in October 2009.
• Michelle’s Law allows college students up to 12 months of leave from school without the risk of being dropped from a parent's health insurance plan, providing the coverage they need after a cancer diagnosis.

Prevention and Early Detection

• Thanks in part to our advocacy efforts, a 2007 reauthorization of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) pledged a 36% increase in funding over the next five years.
• In addition, the 2009 federal budget allocated over $5 million in additional funds to the NBCCEDP.
• ACS CAN strongly supports the Colorectal Cancer Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment Act, a bill that would allocate $50 million in state grants to support prevention and educational programs for the uninsured.
• ACS CAN is also working at the state level to pass legislation requiring health insurance plans to provide coverage for colon cancer screenings. More than half of the nation—26 states— and the District of Columbia

FDA Regulation of Tobacco

• Legislation that allows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate the content and advertising of tobacco products was finally signed into law in 2009.
• The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gives the FDA the authority to restrict the manufacturing, marketing, labeling, and distribution of tobacco products, and to limit harmful marketing ploys that target our youth such as placing tobacco ads near schools and selling flavored cigarettes.
• As a result, an estimated ten million children may never pick up their first cigarette.

ACS_CAN_Successes.pdf

Ohio Updates

• Oral Chemotherapy Coverage in Ohio & Senate Bill 194
• ACS CAN Successes