March 1, 2019
FDA issues proposed rule for updated sunscreen regulations
Last Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations for over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen products. These new regulations aim to protect consumers by making sure that sunscreens are safe and effective.
The FDA says only two of the 16 previously approved ingredients are safe. While two have now been banned from use in OTC products, the FDA is seeking additional research on the remaining 12 ingredients to ensure they’re safe and effective for human use.
These regulations will also bring changes to packaging, requiring all active ingredients be labeled on the front and increasing the maximum SPF label to 60+ (an increase from 50+).
In addition, any product that is labeled as SPF 15+ or higher will need to be broad-spectrum.
Sunscreen is a critical tool to protect your skin and help prevent skin cancer, the most commonly diagnosed and most preventable cancer in the U.S. Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays during the first 18 years of life can lower your risk of some types of skin cancer by up to 78 percent.
Learn more about the proposed regulations here. Comments from the public will be accepted until May 28, 2019—you can submit your comments here.
Democrats calling for an end to Medicaid work rules after thousands lose coverage
In a new letter, top congressional Democrats are calling on Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to put an end to Medicaid work requirements that threaten Americans’ access to health care services. It’s been reported that last year more than 18,000 individuals in Arkansas—the first state to add work requirements—lost coverage because of these requirements.
States can impose work requirements after approval through Section 1115 waivers, which allow states to test new program delivery options by waiving provisions and using funds in ways that aren’t allowed under federal rules. In Arkansas, Medicaid beneficiaries must work, volunteer, attend school or job search at least 80 hours a month to be eligible for coverage. There are 14 other states who have applied for these waivers —which could impact coverage for almost a third of the country.
More than 60 percent of Medicaid enrollees who are able to work are already working. Adding work requirements creates additional enrollment and compliance barriers for vulnerable populations who need better access to preventive services, like cancer screenings. The Prevent Cancer Foundation® supports measures to make affordable health care accessible to all Americans. To learn about waivers in your state, review the CMS registry.
Chamber of Commerce launches ad campaign against administration’s drug pricing proposal
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a seven-figure ad campaign in response to the Trump administration’s proposal to shift to the International Pricing Index (IPI) model of drug pricing. This proposal would set reimbursement prices for prescription drugs under Medicare Part B based on what other countries pay.
The cable, digital and print ads, which are running through mid-March, urge members of Congress to oppose the proposal and speak out on the impact it could have on Medicare enrollees. While the IPI model aims to lower medication costs for Americans, the Chamber of Commerce believes it will “reduce American seniors’ access to lifesaving drugs, inhibit innovation, and ultimately threaten our nation’s free-market health care system.”
This IPI model could make it more difficult for Americans to access the drugs they need from their providers. For cancer patients and survivors, this could mean life or death. While we support finding new ways to lower drug prices, it should not be done at the expense of access.
Register for the 2019 Advocacy Workshop!
We are less than two months away from the 2019 Prevent Cancer Advocacy Workshop! Join us on April 24, 2019 to network with your peers in cancer prevention and early detection as you learn about important advocacy and policy topics.
This year’s panel topics include Access Barriers in Care Delivery and the Economics of Prevention, with panelists from the Arthritis Foundation, Lungevity and Milliman, Inc. See the full agenda here.
Registration is free—sign up today!
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