Statement of the Cancer Organizations Regarding Importance of Medicaid as a Critical Part of the Nation’s Cancer Care System

May 6, 2025 – The undersigned cancer organizations — representing cancer patients; cancer care professionals; researchers; and caregivers and families of cancer patients — issue the statement below to explain the vital importance of Medicaid to cancer patients and to identify the potential serious adverse effects of the Medicaid spending cuts under consideration by the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

“Medicaid enrolls more than 70 million Americans nationwide. More than 2 million people with cancer (children and adults under age 65) are enrolled in Medicaid; this includes 1 in 3 children newly diagnosed with cancer. Medicaid is a lifeline for people with cancer. Cancer patients enrolled in Medicaid have access to cancer care across the continuum, which means access to screening tests, early diagnosis, treatment after diagnosis, and long-term survivorship care to address the late effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

“Americans can be proud of the Medicaid program for its benefits to people with cancer. Medicaid fulfills its mission of providing coverage to people with cancer and ensuring that they have access to all elements of care they need. As a result, the Medicaid program is a critical element of the nation’s fight against cancer.

“We in the cancer community know the value of Medicaid from our personal experience and the experience of cancer survivors nationwide. Moreover, we can assess the value of Medicaid because there is a real-time and ongoing health care delivery experiment involving Medicaid, the result of state choices regarding Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The data show that those states that have expanded Medicaid have better cancer outcomes than those states that have not.¹ Cancer patients’ access to Medicaid in expansion states results in better outcomes for them – longer life, better life, and more time to enjoy their families and contribute to society. And that access results in better outcomes for our nation.

“Americans say that Medicaid is important to people in their communities and to them and their families, and they do not want to see deep cuts to the program. About three-quarters of Americans have very or somewhat favorable views of Medicaid.² The public understands, from personal or family experience or the experience of their communities, that Medicaid has served the nation well.

“The House Energy & Commerce Committee, pursuant to the instructions provided in the FY 2026 Budget Resolution, is considering options for achieving savings of $880 billion over ten years from the programs in its jurisdiction. The Committee is reportedly evaluating deep cuts to Medicaid to meet its targets for budget savings.

“Some Congressional leaders have suggested that waste, fraud, and abuse can be eliminated in Medicaid, massive savings can be achieved, and benefits and eligibility of Medicaid recipients will go untouched. The numbers do not support that.³

“As a result, the Energy & Commerce Committee is reportedly now discussing – and may move to action at a markup as soon as the week of May 12 – changes in the federal match for expansion states, per capita caps for the Medicaid program, or work requirements. All of those potential cuts will directly affect cancer patients enrolled in Medicaid. This is the most important thing to remember – deep cuts in Medicaid spending WILL affect cancer patients. Deep cuts will end Medicaid benefits for many cancer patients. Americans will be harmed. Americans who have heard those life-changing words: you have cancer.

“We urge the Energy & Commerce Committee to reject spending cuts that will harm Americans with cancer and that will slow our nation’s progress in the fight against cancer.”

Cancer Leadership Council

Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators
American Society for Radiation Oncology
Association for Clinical Oncology
Association of Oncology Social Work
CancerCare
Cancer Support Community
Children’s Cancer Cause
Fight Colorectal Cancer
Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association
International Myeloma Foundation
LUNGevity Foundation
Lymphoma Research Foundation
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance

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