ACCC Position on the Cancer Moonshot Relaunch

Washington, DC — As the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) convenes its 48th Annual Meeting and Cancer Center Business Summit today in Washington, DC, it released the following position statement in response to President Biden’s relaunch of Cancer Moonshot:

ACCC applauds President Biden for renewing the Cancer Moonshot and setting the ambitious goals of reducing cancer mortality while improving the experience of patients living with cancer. We appreciate that this relaunch draws more focus upstream in the cancer care continuum to improve prevention and screening and aims to decrease inequities in access and outcomes. As part of the Cancer Moonshot relaunch, ACCC also urges the Biden administration to find ways to reinforce the oncology workforce and to ensure that innovations in screening, diagnosis, and treatment are accessible to all patients.

A. Supporting the Oncology Workforce

ACCC encourages the Administration to use this opportunity to better understand and strengthen the oncology workforce. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of oncologists, nurses, social workers, and other providers necessary to treat an aging population was insufficient, and these workforce shortages have gotten more acute as a result of the pandemic. If the Administration is committed to improving the experience of patients living with cancer, it must also support the needs of the practices and institutions caring for those patients. This includes providing necessary support for comprehensive cancer care services, especially as the Oncology Care Model, which had provided funds for additional staff and resources, concludes this year with no clear successor on the horizon.

B. Ensuring Equitable Access to Innovation

ACCC understands the importance of new funding for cancer research. At the same time, the  Administration should work to ensure that the results of any new research initiatives are applicable at the community level. We also believe that any new technologies or therapeutics that result from this research should be affordable and accessible to all cancer patients.

Furthermore, ACCC appreciates the Administration’s recognition that the pandemic has caused delays in routine cancer screenings and supports its efforts to make screening and prevention more accessible. We encourage the Administration to prioritize value in its efforts to increase cancer screenings and implement solutions that improve access to life-saving screening technologies. For example, the Medicare program currently covers early detection tests for only five cancer types, and over 70% of cancer deaths are caused by cancer types without Medicare-covered screening options.

C. Addressing Inequities in Cancer Care Delivery and Research

In order for the Cancer Moonshot to achieve its goals, ACCC emphasizes that existing inequities in cancer care delivery must be addressed. ACCC members in both academic and community-based programs have been engaged in research projects aimed at reducing disparities in cancer care among underserved and marginalized populations for years. We urge the Administration to draw learnings and best practices from providers that are already doing this important work. Additionally, we encourage the Administration to support legislation that will increase diversity in clinical trials and reduce racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic barriers to participation in cancer research.

The President’s recommitment to the Cancer Moonshot holds great potential to increase cancer survivorship and reduce barriers to equitable cancer care, and we stand ready to aid in these noble efforts. ACCC encourages the Administration to work in concert with us and our member oncology practices and programs to ensure that the results of this renewed initiative are accessible and impactful to providers and their patients in the community.