Action on many of today’s most pressing public policy issues in oncology are happening at the state and local level. Some of this is because of legislative gridlock at the federal level, although much is due to the enduring notion that healthcare—and particularly cancer care—is best regulated locally.

Today, healthcare policy is among the most hotly debated issues in municipalities across the country. With the U.S. having arguably the most complex healthcare infrastructure in the world, it is easy for state-based organizations to become overwhelmed by the issues facing patients in need.

This is especially the case for the 38 state medical oncology societies across the country, which represent the lion’s share of patients with cancer in the U.S. As they are repeatedly called upon to intercede for the providers and patients they represent, these organizations struggle to prioritize and address the policy issues that deserve the most attention.

The Access to Care Policy project builds on the Advocacy Engagement Pilot project to establish a communication and learning infrastructure, focusing on legislative efforts, standards of care, and health equity issues.

For questions about this project, please contact Lu Anne Bankert, CAE, Executive Director, OSS.