It’s time for a National Cancer Patients Bill of Rights that would guarantee all Americans access to the expertise and treatments they need to beat cancer

Cancer care is advancing at breakneck speed, with new lifesaving treatments being discovered literally every day. Yet millions of Americans who need these cures can’t access them. Today cancer patients have drastically different outcomes based on their insurance and level of care.

Cancer patients have a right to access the latest research and treatments for their specific type of cancer at advanced cancer centers, including precision medicine and genomic therapies, regardless of their insurance or means.
Cancer patients have a right to multidisciplinary supportive care while undergoing treatment, including care that addresses pain, emotional, and overall health needs.
Cancer patients have a right to access emerging therapies through representative early- and late-stage clinical trials.
Cancer patients have a right to expert-level cancer care available in their community, enabled through seamless partnerships between community providers and academic institutions.
Cancer patients have a right to understand fully their diagnoses and be informed about treatment options in culturally appropriate and understandable languages.

Implement a Cancer Patient Bill of Rights at the federal and state level.
Ensure insurance plans provide adequate access to expert cancer care. This is especially important to ensure the millions of elderly Americans with a high cancer risk who have Medicare Advantage can begin to access advanced cancer treatments.
Support partnerships between academic and advanced cancer centers and community providers so the latest cures are available locally.

By joining the Coalition, you are joining us in our work to advocate for:

Policies that recognize that Cancer Care is Different than other types of health care, because of the speed of discovery and cancer research, and the importance of early detection and optimal treatment for surviving cancer.
A Cancer Patients Bill of Rights, which would declare that patients should be able to access the latest cancer research, treatments and expertise needed to beat their specific cancer type.
Policies that expand access to cancer care, because no patient should be denied access to innovative treatments or expert care because of their location or means.

Are you an organization fighting to improve access to cancer care? Sign up to join the Cancer Care is Different Coalition