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.