Access to health care coverage is critical to reducing suffering and death from cancer. For decades, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) has advocated at the state and
federal level to improve access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Medicaid plays a significant and critical role in improving access to care and health outcomes – but the program is often misunderstood and mischaracterized.
To address this, ACS CAN has launched Medicaid Covers US: a public education campaign to foster an open dialogue about the value of Medicaid in the lives of countless Americans and their families as well as what it means for communities across the country.
Medicaid Covers US is a national multi-media public education campaign that will inform, support, advance and promote the value of Medicaid. A significant investment of resources will be concentrated in eight campaign states: Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia. The tools, resources and collaterals developed through this project will be available to staff, volunteers, partners and stakeholders in all 50 states. It is our hope that this work will contribute to federal, state and local efforts to protect, preserve, and broaden access to health care through state Medicaid programs.
Through the power of storytelling we intend to elevate the positive impact Medicaid has not just on beneficiaries, but on communities and our nation. The stories of individuals, families, health care providers and local communities are the central focus of this campaign. These stories are being documented and disseminated through various mediums and collateral materials, including a three- part mini-documentary, a digital storybook and dedicated website. In addition to storytelling, we are performing research on the importance of Medicaid in the fight against cancer and producing evidence- based tools and resources (fact sheets, infographics, etc.) to advance the conversation about Medicaid and its importance for countless Americans.
What can I do to get involved?
You can join the conversation by visiting medicaidcoversus.org where you can: find stories from individuals and families in the eight campaign states; learn how you can share your story; host an event; access tools and resources including recent research, fact sheets and other materials related to the Medicaid Covers US campaign.
How is this project funded?
This public education campaign by the American Cancer Society (ACS) through a grant provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as well as funds provided by ACS and ACS CAN. ACS and ACS CAN are investing additional funding to support the public education effort and ongoing advocacy work across the country.
Established in 2001, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (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, visit fightcancer.org.
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information, go to www.cancer.org.
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