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Over the past several weeks our membership has reached out in overwhelming numbers worried about the potential impacts of actions at the federal level to cancer care here in Virginia. The message has been the same… “What can we do?!”.
In response, the advocacy/policy committee has put together information about several areas of concern and how you can make your voice heard!
Intelligence tells us decisions in regard to these proposed cuts and changes will be happening very soon, so we encourage you to take action and make your voice heard immediately.
Impact of Proposed Federal Cuts to Virginia
President’s Proposed Budget Seeks Elimination of
CDC Cancer Screening and Prevention Programs
The President’s proposed budget calls for the elimination of the CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. This CDC program funds the following cancer control and prevention programs in Virginia:
1. Comprehensive Cancer Control Program including support for CACV
2. Every Woman’s Life Program, breast and cervical cancer screening program
3. Virginia Cancer Registry
The loss of this CDC program and funding would be devastating to our efforts for cancer control and prevention in Virginia. Read the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) press release on these proposed cuts here.
The proposed budget is under review by Congress and if you’d like to make your voice heard, contact Virginia US Senators and Virginia US Representatives or utilize ACS CAN’s action tools here.
Virginia’s Tobacco Control Program Funding Uncertain
Below is an important message from the Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia (TFAV) about recent funding cuts to VDH’s Tobacco Control Program (TCP).
From Hong Xue, PhD, Chair, Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia
On April 1st, the HHS Reduction in Force eliminated staff at the CDC Office of Smoking and Health (OSH) and significantly reduced the staff at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. Virginia's Tobacco Control Program (TCP), which relies entirely on CDC funding through OSH, faces uncertainty as its current grant concluded on April 28, 2025.
They are still operating at this time with carry-over funding. For two decades, the TCP has provided essential services, including Quit Now Virginia, helping to reduce tobacco use and improve public health across our communities. The possible discontinuation of this funding threatens to reverse years of progress. Now more than ever, we need your voice and advocacy. We encourage all TFAV members to stay engaged, share the impact of tobacco prevention in your communities and networks, and advocate for sustained tobacco control funding wherever possible.
The first goal of the Virginia Cancer Plan is to “reduce exposure to and use of tobacco products among Virginians” and the Tobacco Control Program has been the leading force in our progress.
Now more than ever support is needed for our tobacco control efforts across the state, and we encourage you to consider getting involved in the Tobacco Free Alliance of Virginia (TFAV), learn more here: TFAV.
Medicaid in Virginia
Virginia is one of several states that has what’s known as a Medicaid Trigger Law. This means that if the federal matching percentage of funding is reduced all enrollees in the expansion population will be dis-enrolled. Learn more information about Medicaid Trigger Laws and their impact on Virginians here.
A reduction in this funding is absolutely possible unless we make our voices heard! Voices for Virginia’s Children currently has an action alert in regard to proposed cuts which you can find here.
State Policy Updates
Governor Youngkin recently signed two bills into law that will improve cancer screening efforts and the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis. CACV appreciates the work of our partner organizations whose dedication made these policy advancements possible.
Medical Debt Protection Act; prohibited practices; penalties. Creates the Medical Debt Protection Act to prohibit a large health care facility or medical debt buyer, as those terms are defined in the bill, from using certain extraordinary collection actions to collect medical debt or from charging interest or late fees on medical debt until 90 days following the due date applicable to the final invoice. The bill specifies that no such interest or late fees shall exceed three percent of the amount of such medical debt per annum. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.
Health insurance; cost sharing for breast examinations. Prohibits health insurance carriers from imposing cost sharing for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations, as those terms are defined in the bill, under certain insurance policies, subscription contracts, and health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2026. The bill provides that such examinations include examinations using diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging, or breast ultrasound. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Health Insurance Reform Commission.
CACV Advocacy/Policy Committee
If you are interested in helping with advocacy and policy related aspects of the Virginia Cancer Plan, consider joining our Advocacy/Policy Committee. Email us at policy@cancercoalitionofvirginia.org for more information about the committee.
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