“We could save lives” — American Cancer Society in SC calls for additional funding, Medicaid expansion

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — New data shows that over 350,000 South Carolinians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024.

Representatives from the American Cancer Society’s “Cancer Action Network” joined with cancer patients and survivors at the SC State House for their annual “Suits and Sneakers Day,” urging lawmakers to make cancer prevention a priority.

Director of Government Relations for the group, Beth Johnson, says they’re asking the legislature for an additional $1 million in increased funding for colon cancer screenings and treatments through their Colon Cancer Prevention Network.

“They screen patients who are uninsured or underinsured, and with an additional million dollars, they could screen more patients. So right now the screening that they have, they run out of screening every year. They have patients calling into their office saying hey can I get a screening and they have to tell them no I’m sorry we don’t have any funds to screen you,” Johnson says.

Michael Brooks is an advocate for the Colon Cancer Prevention Network and wants lawmakers to know the program not only helped him with costs, it provided him with peace of mind.

“For years, you know it was in the back of my mind. I thought I’m not worried about that, I’m not worried about that. I was worried about it of course. You’d be foolish not to be worried about it. Since the screening that’s not there anymore. And since the screening, I know where I stand. And that’s just a good feeling,” he says.

Johnson says they’re also calling for the support of Senate Bill 855, which would provide Medicaid expansion and further access to hundreds of thousands of South Carolinians to undergo screenings and treatments.

“They can’t afford insurance on the market place but they don’t qualify for Medicaid. That’s the population that truly, they fall in the gap. And they’re not being screened. What happens is they’re showing up at the emergency room, and they’re costing the state more money by showing up at the emergency room, where if we could have them on a health care plan, we could prevent them from showing up at the emergency room. We could save lives,” she says.

If you’re uninsured and want to have a cancer screening, the American Cancer Society is available at 1-800-227-2345. Johnson says they’ll help direct you to a local screening option.