Advocacy
Grassroot and National Efforts
Our Grassroots Efforts
The Kentucky Society of Clinical Oncology works closely with key stakeholders including the American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, the Kentucky Cancer Foundation, the Kentucky Medical Association, and others to introduce and advance legislation that improves barriers to care.
As part of our continued commitment to improving strategy and advancing meaningful policy, we have worked collaboratively with the Kentucky Cancer Coalition and the Kentucky Cancer Consortium to support a Policy Network with representation from numerous non-profits, government agencies, and care centers across the state. Our goal is to help align goals from the Kentucky Cancer Action Plan with policy that supports those objectives to create meaningful change across the cancer care continuum.
Our National Efforts
The Kentucky Society of Clinical Oncology works in partnership with the American Society of Clinical Oncology to educate policymakers in Washington D.C. about the importance of high-quality, affordable cancer care regardless of who you are or where you live. We advocate for policies to improve access to clinical trials and to support a robust research infrastructure. As a state affiliate of ASCO we have two voting representatives on the ASCO State Affiliate Council. These representatives serve as a bridge between the affiliate and the Association by:
- Strengthen their organizations
- Improve policies and procedures
- Enhance educational activities
- Provide support to their members
We also work closely with the American Society of Hematology on advocacy efforts. Each state has at least one Carrier Advisory Committee, which is established by a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). MACs are private health insurers contracted with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to process Medicare claims for a specific geographic region.
Annually, ASH hosts the CAC Network Meeting as an opportunity for CAC representatives to meet, network, and strengthen relationships. The meeting allows participants to discuss Medicare-related coverage and policy issues (e.g., LCDs), draft policies, and the relationship between Medicare and the provider community. This diverse group of stakeholders also has an opportunity to discuss possible solutions to real-world issues.
