2021 South Carolina Legislative Priorities

Victory in the fight against cancer requires bold new public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection of cancer, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of South Carolinians touched by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease. In 2021, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will work with the SC General Assembly on legislative and regulatory efforts that address disruption in cancer care and screenings; provide affordable, adequate access to healthcare insurance including Medicaid; as well appropriations funding for lifesaving cancer screening and prevention policies that help people that use tobacco products quit and deter kids from ever using tobacco products. We will be making the following evidence-based policies a priority and ask for your support:

 Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Medicaid Expansion: ACS CAN will advocate for preservation of funding and access to Medicaid for low-income individuals and families in South Carolina. We will support policies that broaden Medicaid eligibility to low-income parents and adults, earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level.  In 2021, our work will specifically focus on building a broad coalition and grassroots movement to help us realize our goal to protect, improve, defend and expand Medicaid. 
• Medication Access:  ACS CAN will support legislation to curb copay accumulator adjustment programs and ensure that all cost-sharing payments, including copay assistance, count toward patients’ deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. 

 Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Breast and Cervical Cancer: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding of $1 million for The Best Chance Network, the state breast and cervical cancer screening program for low-income uninsured and underinsured women administered by the SC Department of Health.
• Colorectal Cancer: ACS CAN will work to increase funding for colorectal cancer screening, treatment, and patient navigation programs. Additionally, ACS CAN will work to ensure health plans cover colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45 and ensure patients are not charged for colonoscopies that follow a positive stool-based test.

 Reducing the Toll of Tobacco

• Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Funding:  ACS CAN will work to maintain funding, provided through the state cigarette tax, and sustain evidence-based, statewide tobacco use prevention and cessation programs. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control receives
  $5 million for prevention and cessation and The Medical University of South Carolina receives
  $5 million for prevention and cessation efforts.

For more information, contact: Beth Johnson, South Carolina Government Relations Director ACS CAN  

[email protected] / 843-858-2310

ACS CAN is making cancer a top priority for public officials and candidates at the federal, state, and local levels. ACS CAN empowers advocates across the country to make their voices heard and influence evidence-based public policy change as well as legislative and regulatory solutions that will reduce the cancer burden. As the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN is critical to the fight for a world without cancer. For more information please visit www.fightcancer.org.