California’s health equity leaders applaud the Legislature and Newsom Administration for expanding access to optimal cancer care for Medi-Cal beneficiaries
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The California Black Health Network (CBHN) is pleased to announce that Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Cancer Care Equity Act into law on September 27, 2022. As it stood previously, less than half of California cancer patients received care aligned with national guidelines. The bill, SB 987 introduced by Senator Anthony Portantino (SD-25), will close this care gap by expanding access to specialized cancer care for Medi-Cal patients.
“Our previous one size-fits-all Medi-Cal system prevented too many California cancer patients, particularly those historically underserved, from receiving optimal care and it was time for a change,” said Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network. “As one of the co-sponsors of SB 987, I would like to thank Senator Anthony Portantino for authoring the bill and Governor Newsom for recognizing the need to improve access to specialized care for more patients and families in California.”
The law, which takes effect January 1, 2023, will enable California’s most vulnerable populations receiving a complex cancer diagnosis to more easily access optimal cancer care services, such as genomic testing, precision medicine-based care, subspecialty expertise, and clinical trials. It also provides the opportunity to seek treatment at a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer center.
Data from the California Cancer Registry shows that approximately 17,000 Medi-Cal members with complex cancers will be qualified for treatment annually under the new access model outlined in SB 987 (Portantino). Complex cancer diagnoses covered under the California Cancer Care Equity Act include leukemia, multiple myeloma, certain lymphomas, pancreatic cancer, advanced stage lung cancer, advanced stage prostate cancer, advanced stage breast cancer, sarcomas, and liver and biliary cancer.
“Patients deserve to access specialized care appropriate for their individual cancer, including enrolling in clinical trials and innovative therapies without unnecessary and unfair barriers,” said Autumn J. Ogden-Smith, California legislative director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “With the enactment of the California Cancer Care Equity Act, more Medi-Cal patients with cancer will have access to the full range of medical options available for their cancer.”
Nearly 200,000 Californians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year and thousands of these new cancer patients will be misdiagnosed or placed on treatment regimens that are inappropriate or ineffective for their condition. SB 987 seeks to fix our currently delivery system by ensuring Medi-Cal patients can quickly and equitably access the latest innovations in cancer care.
SB 987 is supported by Cancer Care Is Different, a statewide coalition focused on raising awareness of the need to improve cancer care delivery in California which includes City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Susan G. Komen, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match, California Chronic Care Coalition, North Bay Cancer Alliance, Lazarex Cancer Foundation, Triage Cancer, The Latino Cancer Institute, California Black Health Network and Stanford Health Care.
About California Black Health Network
The California Black Health Network (CBHN) is the voice and trusted resource for Black health equity in California. Founded in1983,CBHN is the only Black-led, statewide organization dedicated to advocating for health equity for all African Americans and Black Immigrants in California. Connect with CBHN:
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