2021-2022 Public Policy & Advocacy Priorities
Every two years, the Center for Public Policy identifies the public policy issue areas where Komen’s voice can provide the greatest potential for achieving our mission – to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.
This year has posed significant challenges — the coronavirus pandemic has put a spotlight on the inequalities that exist in our health care systems and highlighted long known disparities in breast cancer outcomes. We believe all people deserve equitable access to high-quality breast health care no matter their age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, cancer stage or socio-economic status. By prioritizing equitable access to high-quality health care, everyone will be given the opportunity to survive breast cancer. Therefore, Komen’s overarching state and federal advocacy work in 2021 and 2022 will advance the goal of achieving health equity for all.
Komen’s 2021 – 2022 Public Policy & Advocacy Priorities:
We commit to Accelerating Research as the driving force behind decades of advances that have improved the health of people in every corner of America—especially those affected by breast cancer. Susan G. Komen will support efforts to adequately fund the entire research spectrum, including through state and federally supported biomedical research, as we support broader efforts to ensure research reflects and includes the diversity of the breast cancer community. Thus, Komen will advocate for increased education about and access to clinical trials for all patient populations.
As biomedical research opens doors to innovative technologies and treatments for breast cancer, we must ensure all patients can benefit from these advancements. We commit to Ensuring Access to affordable, high-quality care for all patients. We also support programs, which provide vital care to our most vulnerable patients, including the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, Medicaid and Medicare.
While it is crucial to break down barriers to accessing our health care system, we must also ensure that, once in the system, patients can fully utilize health care. Therefore, Komen commits to Alleviating Patient Burden through robust public policies that recognize both the financial toxicity of treating breast cancer and the systemic hurdles patients must pass through to access their care. We commit to supporting policies that lower out-of-pocket costs, protect patients from financial ruin and reduce the red tape around vital aspects of care.
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