Advocacy Resources

Advocacy Aimed at Improving Access and Outcomes in Cancer Care: To address policies and practices that affect patient care and access, each participating oncology state society leads a policy and advocacy program focused on legislation and regulations impacting cancer care. The program has expanded its reach by collaborating with local and national organizations and state lobbyists to prioritize key legislative issues.

The policy program has helped establish a policy communication and learning infrastructure in 15 participating states with over 130 engaged multidisciplinary providers across the US, demonstrating the collective power available to drive meaningful change. By collaborating to address key policy issues, members can have a tangible impact on improving patient care and quality of life for both patients and caregivers.

To learn more about your state’s policy committee, email Lu Anne Bankert at lbankert@accc-cancer.org.

Session Overview
The 2026 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session was one of the most significant oncology policy sessions in the state’s history. Key bills were passed that reflect the state’s continued commitment to ensuring patients can access evidence-based cancer care without unnecessary financial or administrative burdens.

Lawmaker’s efforts focused on modernizing oral chemotherapy parity protections, protecting access to supportive care for terminally ill patients, expanding cancer screening coverage, and increasing access to medically necessary dental services for cancer patients. In addition to passing new legislation, the state worked on improving the implementation of the existing biomarker testing law through legislation and study resolution that were approved during the session.

Many of the issues advanced during the session, including oral chemotherapy parity, biomarker testing implementation, patient affordability, and early detection, closely align with long-standing advocacy priorities supported by the Louisiana Oncology Society and patient advocacy groups in the state.

What Legislation Passed

• Oral Chemotherapy Parity Modernization (House Bill 766): This legislation strengthens Louisiana’s oral chemotherapy parity law by requiring health insurers to provide coverage for orally administered anticancer medications on terms no less favorable than intravenous or injected cancer therapies. The law also prohibits insurers from imposing more restrictive cost-sharing requirements or utilization management practices on oral therapies and includes important protections addressing copay accumulator adjustment programs that prevent manufacturer financial assistance from counting toward a patient’s deductible or annual out-of-pocket maximum.
  
  For oncology patients, these reforms help ensure that treatment decisions are driven by clinical need rather than insurance benefit design and reduce financial barriers that can interfere with treatment adherence.
• Patient Access to Medical Marijuana (Senate Bill 270 (Act 602)): Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 270 (Act 602), expanding patient rights and access to compassionate care by allowing physician-recommended medical marijuana to eligible terminally ill patients receiving care in licensed healthcare facilities.
  
  The legislation authorizes licensed healthcare facilities to permit the on-site consumption of approved non-smokable medical marijuana products by qualifying terminally ill patients in accordance with physician recommendations and facility policies. The law also establishes legal protections for healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals participating under the Act.
• Biomarker Testing Implementation (Senate Bill 169 and Senate Resolution 170): Following enactment of Louisiana’s landmark biomarker testing law in previous years, legislators focused this session on ensuring consistent implementation. Senate Bill 169 clarifies portions of the existing biomarker testing statute related to laboratory classification, while Senate Resolution 170 directs the Louisiana Department of Insurance and the Louisiana Department of Health to study implementation of the biomarker law, including prior authorization practices, denial rates, testing delays, appeals, and barriers to patient access. These actions are intended to ensure that patients receive timely access to medically necessary biomarker testing consistent with evidence-based clinical guidelines.
• Expanded Cancer Screening (Senate Bill 84, House Bill 1196, and Senate Bill 439): Louisiana continued expanding access to preventive cancer services through several important measures. Senate Bill 84 eliminates cost-sharing for medically necessary prostate cancer screening consistent with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, helping improve access to early detection for higher-risk populations. House Bill 1196 strengthens colorectal cancer screening protections by ensuring that colonoscopies remain classified as preventive screening services when polyps are removed during the procedure and when medically appropriate follow-up colonoscopies are recommended. Senate Bill 439 expands Louisiana’s firefighter cancer screening program by adding precancer screening services, extending eligibility to retired firefighters, and providing coverage without patient cost-sharing beginning in 2027.
• Supportive Cancer Care (Senate Bill 155): Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 155, requiring insurers to cover medically necessary dental services performed as part of cancer treatment planning. These services, including dental evaluations, imaging, examinations, and extractions, play an important role in preventing infection and treatment complications for patients preparing to undergo chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplantation, or other immunosuppressive cancer treatments.

Why It Matters for Oncology Practices
Rather than focusing exclusively on administrative reform in the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers addressed multiple points across the cancer care continuum, from prevention and early detection to precision medicine, treatment, survivorship, and supportive care. Collectively, these policies should improve access to evidence-based care while reducing financial barriers that often delay treatment or discourage patients from receiving recommended services.

For oncology practices, the strengthened oral chemotherapy parity law should improve patient affordability and reduce disparities between oral and infused therapies. Continued implementation of the state’s biomarker testing law is expected to improve access to precision medicine by reducing inappropriate denials and encouraging more consistent insurance coverage.

Louisiana’s continued investment in cancer screening and supportive care further reinforces the state’s commitment to improving patient outcomes through early detection and comprehensive treatment, while also supporting access to compassionate, patient-centered care for the terminally ill.

Looking ahead to the 2027 legislative session, we expect continued work surrounding the implementation of recently enacted laws, oversight of biomarker testing policies, and additional opportunities for Louisiana to lead the way in developing patient-centered oncology policy.

Stay informed on recent federal policy changes impacting oncology care, including Medicare telehealth extensions, expanded cancer screening coverage, and increased investment in cancer research. These updates highlight important opportunities to support patient access and strengthen care delivery, underscoring the value of ongoing advocacy engagement.

Guide to Getting Started in State-Level Oncology Advocacy

Interested in shaping cancer care policy in your state but not sure where to begin? Download our resource guide created for oncology professionals looking to make an impact. Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to get more involved, this tool kit provides step-by-step instructions and resources to help you take the next step. Learn about key legislative issues going on in your state, such as prior authorization reform, PBM reform, co-pay accumulator protections, biomarker testing access, and white bagging, and more—and how they affect cancer care delivery. This guide outlines practical tips on how to connect with your state society, share your story with local legislators, track state bills, and get involved in Hill Days. Download the guide and start advocating for better cancer care today. Contact your Executive Director for more information!

2025 Policy Town Hall
In June 2025, multidisciplinary health care professionals, policy experts, and leaders from oncology state societies convened for the second annual Policy Town Hall to examine how state-level advocacy is shaping the future of cancer care within a complex policy landscape.

This year's discussion highlighted legislative progress and emerging challenges across the country. Topics included:

• Advancing pharmacy benefit manager reform and prior authorization oversight
• Expanding access to biomarker testing
• Protecting Medicaid coverage amid policy shifts
• Amplifying patient and clinician voices in advocacy
• Building effective coalitions and leveraging local lobbyists

Gain key insights on how oncology state societies are driving meaningful policy change and shaping equitable, patient-centered cancer care.

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Engaging in advocacy through our state societies is one of the most direct ways we can have a voice in healthcare policies impacting the care of our patients.

- Haley M. Simpson, MD, PhD
Policy Committee

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