The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will host a Cancer Action Day beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza outside the Arizona State Capitol.

ACS CAN volunteers will meet with lawmakers and urge them to support reauthorization of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid program.

Currently, more than 2 million Arizonans are AHCCCS recipients. The program provides cancer screenings at recommended guidelines and provides traditional health care coverage. Studies show access to quality health insurance coverage leads to better health outcomes for cancer patients. Arizona’s ACS CAN volunteers will urge lawmakers to continue this critical program. 

Officials with the group said studies have demonstrated uninsured patients are more likely to present with late-stage disease and have worse short-term survival after cancer diagnosis. Ensuring access to comprehensive health insurance coverage through Medicaid is crucial for improving access to cancer care and outcomes, including stage at diagnosis and survival.