ASCO® Advocacy Summit
April 16-17, 2024

Sharad Khurana, MD, MSC President Elect for The Arizona Clinical Oncology Society (TACOS), Named Advocacy Champion by the Association for Clinical Oncology

The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) named Dr. Khurana as an Advocacy Champion during the 2024 ASCO Advocacy Summit in April. Advocacy Champions are ASCO volunteers who have made meaningful contributions to the Association’s advocacy activities throughout the year to ensure that every patient with cancer has access to high-quality, equitable cancer care no matter who they are or where they live. Advocates speak with federal lawmakers and agencies, send personalized letters to Members of Congress through ASCO’s ACT Network, engage with state lawmakers on policy priorities at the state-level, and host site visits for lawmakers in their home states and districts.

Throughout the past year, Dr. Khurana has worked with TACOS on Policy in Arizona that would affect cancer patients along with federal policy.

Sharad Khurana, MD, MSC is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.  

For more news, advocacy, and analysis on cancer policy, please visit asco.org/association.

TACOS President-Elect Sharad Khurana, MD, MSC from the University of Arizona participated in ASCO Advocacy Day, April 16-17, 2024. He was able to meet with Representative Juan Ciscomani of Arizona along with Sameer Keole, MD from the Mayo Clinic.

Biomarker Testing in Arizona

In 2022, ACS CAN led a successful legislative campaign in Arizona to expand access to biomarker testing. In this recently released video, Governor Ducey, Representative Regina Cobb, Dr. Rachna Shroff, and Holly Hill reflect on the impact this law will have on patients across the state. 

Posted 09/22/2022

Arizona Celebrates Huge Victory with the Signing of SB 1270!

Last week marks a major victory for Arizonans with the signing of Senate Bill 1270, which provides common-sense guardrails to ensure transparent, efficient, and fair processes for patients and their providers. Read full one pager. 

Posted 07/12/2021

Arizonans for Step Therapy Reform: New Op-Ed Shines Light on Step Therapy's Harm

As conversations with bill sponsors and the Governor's office continue about the timing to bring SB 1270 to the floor of the full House, read this recent opinion piece, which shines light on the impact of step therapy on Arizona families.  

Posted 04/29/2021

Arizonans for Step Therapy Reform: An Update on SB 1270

Conversations are continuing with the Governor's office about whether or not SB 1270 must be tied to the state budget. In a recent op-ed, Jasleen Chhatwal, president of the Arizona Psychiatric Society, weighs in on how step therapy interferes in doctor-patient relationships. Read it here. 

Posted 04/16/2021

Arizonans for Step Therapy Reform: An Update on SB 1270

The Rules Committee has cleared Senate Bill 1270 by Senator Nancy Barto to head to the House floor. Please continue to reach out to House members and engage on social media. For a list of House members and their contact information, click here. 

Posted 04/02/2021

Arizonans for Step Therapy Reform: An Update on SB 1270

10-year-old Tucson advocate captures media attention after sharing her story about step therapy's impact on a child with juvenile arthritis. As we wait for the House to vote on Senate Bill 1270: Insurance; Prescription Drugs; Step Therapy, please be sure to follow @OSSatACCC and @AZStepReform on Twitter and thank @NancyBarto for sponsoring this bill, which would ensure patient access to quality and timely treatment.

Posted 03/30/2021

Guest Column: Arizona legislators should support bill to help improve patient care

In light of Senate Bill 1270: Insurance; Prescription Drugs; Step Therapy having been sent from the Senate to the House of Representatives, TACOS Board Member Raju Vaddepally, MD, Yuma Regional Medical Center Cancer Center, published an opinion piece on the importance of this bill in ensuring patient access to quality and timely treatment. Read it here. 

Posted 03/08/2021