Protecting Cancer Research and Patient Care Access

Position Summary

The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) strongly opposes recent executive actions limiting NIH funding and other federal support for medical research and the House budget resolution that would reduce Medicaid funding. These changes threaten to undermine cancer research infrastructure, reduce patient access to care, and reverse progress in cancer treatment outcomes nationwide.

About ACCC

The Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) is a leading education and advocacy organization dedicated to serving the cancer care community. ACCC is viewed as a well-established and highly respected organization within the oncology industry at large, built from our 50+ year history of serving cancer care teams and the patients they support. ACCC is differentiated by our unique multidisciplinary focus and wide-reaching nationwide footprint. The current membership base encompasses 45,000+ cancer care professionals from more than 1,700 different member organizations—in total, representing approximately two-thirds of all oncology programs and practices in the U.S.

Cancer Care Without Compromise: Our Commitment to Patients and Progress

As the leading education and advocacy organization for the cancer care community, ACCC bridges the gap between clinical research and practical implementation. We translate cutting-edge research innovation and scientific discovery into actionable solutions for diverse cancer care teams. We develop initiatives such as quality improvement programs that help cancer teams quickly integrate effective practices, evidence-based guidelines, innovative treatment approaches, and technical advancements into their daily work—work ultimately resulting in improved outcomes and experiences for patients throughout the U.S. ACCC has a long history of working with policymakers across the political spectrum to promote access to advanced, lifesaving cancer care.

The Importance of Sustaining Cancer Research Based in the U.S.

ACCC is deeply concerned about the series of executive actions initiated in January 2025 and continuing through March 2025 and potentially beyond, which threaten to undermine cancer research infrastructure nationwide.[i] These changes jeopardize critical medical breakthroughs and ongoing treatments for thousands of cancer patients currently enrolled in clinical trials and research programs. The federal funding and cross-sector partnerships affected by these policy changes have been essential to expanding cancer care access in communities nationwide and promoting diverse participation in clinical research.

Research directly saves and extends lives. Patients are living longer, experiencing a better quality of life, and in some cases being cured of cancer, as a direct consequence of innovations developed through federally supported research and clinical trials. The impact is quantifiable and profound: A landmark 2021 study published in Annals of Oncology demonstrated that cancer clinical trials conducted through the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) publicly funded National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) resulted in an extraordinary gain of 14 million additional years of life for American cancer patients between 1980 and 2019.[ii] This represents one of the greatest public health achievements in modern medicine, with each year of federal research investment yielding approximately 350,000 additional years of life for cancer patients.

We are at a pivotal moment in cancer care history, as scientific and technological advances are transforming treatment possibilities. Cell and gene therapies, precision diagnostics, and artificial intelligence applications are revolutionizing how we diagnose and treat cancer. Maintaining America's global leadership in these areas requires stable policy frameworks and sustained financial support.

The United States has long been at the forefront of cancer research, saving countless lives through innovations supported by public-private partnerships. ACCC remains committed to working collaboratively with policymakers of all political affiliations to ensure continued progress in developing and providing access to treatments for all cancer patients, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The Importance of Preserving Health Coverage 

Cancer patients and the care teams that serve them, including ACCC members, rely on a range of private and public coverage programs—notably employer and individual private coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program—to pay for medical treatments, reimburse providers, and protect patients from what would otherwise be prohibitive costs for cancer care.

After significant progress in reducing the uninsurance rate over the last decade, the recent House budget resolution (H.Con.Res. 14) threatens to reverse these gains, particularly with respect to Medicaid coverage. As confirmed by the Congressional Budget Office analysis, achieving the targets in this resolution would require significant cuts to Medicaid[iii] that would directly impact cancer patients' access to care. A significant number of Americans with a history of cancer currently rely on Medicaid coverage. Medicaid covers 1 in 10 adults with a history of cancer, and 1 in 3 children diagnosed with cancer.[iv] 

The evidence is clear: lack of healthcare coverage is one of the strongest predictors of poor cancer outcomes in the United States. Patients without insurance are diagnosed at later stages, receive less appropriate care throughout their cancer journey, and experience worse survival rates compared to insured patients.[v]  Studies show that cancer patients who lose Medicaid coverage experience treatment disruptions that reduce five-year survival rates by up to 20%.[vi] Cancer caught at a later stage not only has survival implications but costs significantly more to treat.

 

ACCC's Position and Commitment

As policymakers consider reductions in funding that supports healthcare research and coverage, it is essential to evaluate both the immediate and long-term effects of such changes on:

• Patient access to innovative treatments and clinical trials
• Provider ability to deliver comprehensive cancer care
• The sustainability of research infrastructure that drives medical progress
• Broad access to cancer care and continued progress to reduce cancer care disparities

ACCC calls on Congress and the Administration to:

1. Maintain NIH indirect cost rate policies that support institutional research capacity
2. Protect Medicaid funding and coverage provisions
3. Engage in direct dialogue with the cancer clinical and research community when considering policy changes that affect research and treatment
   

ACCC encourages policymakers to partner with us and other relevant stakeholders in developing solutions that advance the delivery of cancer care across the US—without compromising patients or the pace of progress in clinical innovation and scientific discovery.

 

Additional Details

Contact ACCC

For additional information or technical expert questions, please contact:

Nicole Tapay, JD
Director, Health Policy & Advocacy Department
Association of Cancer Care Centers
ntapay@accc-cancer.org

For media-related inquiries, please contact:
Tricia Dickey
Associate Director, Marketing Department
Association of Cancer Care Centers
tdickey@accc-cancer.org

 

[i] E.g., Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health, Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates, NOT-OD-25-068 (Feb. 7, 2025).

[ii] Unger, J.M. et al. Clinical and scientific impact of National Cancer Institute: Sponsored clinical trial network group treatment trials. Annals of Oncology (2021) 32 (suppl_5): S1102-S1110. 10.1016/annonc/annonc711

[iii] Congressional Budget Office. Letter to Representatives Brendan Boyle and Frank Pallone Re: Mandatory Spending Under the Jurisdiction of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. March 5, 2025.

[iv] American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Public Policy Resources. The Facts About Medicaid and Cancer. March 14, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. The Facts About Medicaid and Cancer | American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

[v] Yabroff, K.R. et al. Health Insurance Coverage Disruptions and Cancer Care and Outcomes: Systematic Review of Published Research. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2020 Apr 27;112(7):671-687.

[vi] Mariotto AB et al. Medical Care Costs Associated with Cancer Survivorship in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020;29(7):1304-1312. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1534