NBCA is part of a coalition of agencies working to address disparities in in cancer care, particularly for Californians in underserved communities. The name of that coalition is Cancer Care Is Different.
Cancer Coalition Announces Support for California Bill to Eliminate Cancer Care Inequity
Cancer Care Is Different, which championed passage of California’s Cancer Patients Bill of Rights, enthusiastically endorses SB 987 to help address inequities in access to cancer care.
April 2022
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, the Cancer Care Is Different Coalition announced its support for the California Cancer Care Equity Act (SB 987), which would remove unfair regulatory barriers that disproportionately prevent Californians in underserved communities from accessing optimal cancer care for complex cancer diagnoses.
The California Cancer Care Equity Act would ensure Medi-Cal beneficiaries who receive a complex cancer diagnosis have the choice to seek treatment at a comprehensive cancer center, increasing the number of Californians able to benefit from emerging therapies, clinical trials and appropriate cancer treatment specialized for particular types of cancer. The complex diagnoses covered include leukemia, multiple myeloma, certain lymphomas, pancreatic cancer, advanced stage lung cancer, advanced stage prostate cancer, advanced stage breast cancer, sarcomas, and liver and biliary cancer.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino (SD-25) and advances the rights affirmed by the California State Legislature through its unanimous passage of the Cancer Patients Bill of Rights resolution in 2021.
The Cancer Care Is Different Coalition believes that every Californian diagnosed with cancer deserves a chance to access the cancer treatments most appropriate for their diagnosis and most likely to save their life. Members joining in support of SB 987 include City of Hope, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Susan G. Komen, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, North Bay Cancer Alliance, Lazarex Cancer Foundation and Triage Cancer.