Fight CRC Opposes Ruling Jeopardizing Preventive Services Coverage

• 

Advocacy Blog
hero symbol

Last week in Texas, a federal judge ruled as unconstitutional the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage based on recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF determines the preventive care that must be covered in full by private health insurance.

No-cost preventive services – such as colorectal cancer screening – are critical to improving health outcomes for all Americans and ultimately saving lives. Fight Colorectal Cancer is deeply concerned about last week’s ruling and will work with policymakers and our advocacy partners to ensure continued access to colorectal cancer screening and other important preventive services.

Joe Bullock was 50 years old when his colorectal cancer was found during a routine colonoscopy screening.

“I was diagnosed with stage IIIb colorectal cancer in May 2018 because of a routine colonoscopy as a part of a preventive health screening. I was grateful to be in a position to accept this opportunity of which many are not so lucky or afforded. This preventive health screening saved my life as today I’m cancer free. It’s imperative that this option be made available to everyone so more lives may be saved.”

–Joe Bullock, colorectal cancer survivor

Fight CRC will continue to advocate in favor of access to preventive screening because we have seen firsthand the number of lives that have been saved from timely access to colorectal cancer screening.

“Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. We have been working hard with our partners to get CRC screenings back on track following major decreases due to COVID-19. This ruling underscores that we as advocates for patients need to stay vigilant. We can’t address the health disparities we see across the country and remove lifesaving screening services.  The ruling is a step back in providing access to prevention for those who need it most."

Anjee Davis, MPPA, President Fight Colorectal Cancer

Fight CRC will continue to work on healthcare policy and continue to advocate on behalf of patients for continued access to screening and for colorectal cancer.