New Jersey General Assembly Prioritizes Access to Colorectal Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Screenings

Assemblymembers Target Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening in Effort to Reduce Statewide Incidence and Mortality Rates

TRENTON, NJ – DECEMBER 15, 2022 – Earlier today, the New Jersey General Assembly approved legislation that seeks to remove financial barriers to lifesaving cancer screening. A-3523 passed the full Assembly by a vote of 78-0, edging New Jersey closer to requiring health insurers to cover colorectal cancer screenings recommended by United States Preventive Services Task Force and eliminating cost-sharing requirements for certain colonoscopies.

In 2022, an estimated 4,260 New Jerseyans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and, by year’s end, New Jersey residents can expect to lose 1,380 neighbors to the preventable disease. This legislation was erected to address colorectal cancer morbidity and mortality rates, which disproportionately impact communities of color, under- or uninsured individuals and people of a lower socioeconomic status.

“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network maintains the goal of eliminating all suffering and death from cancer. Today’s vote in the Assembly moved us one step closer to that end,” said Jade Bechelli, New Jersey Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). She continues, “By improving screening rates across the state, we can begin to chip away at definitive health disparities in colorectal cancer incidence and death rates. For example, Blacks are about 20% more likely to develop colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from the disease than most other groups. A-3523 and S-2305 aim to reverse this troublesome trend, extending survival rates for Black New Jerseyans and all other groups shouldering the burden of barriers to screening.”

ACS CAN thanks Assemblymembers Benson, Stanley and Conaway for their leadership on this critical legislation. With the bill’s Senate counterpart expected to receive consideration in the State Senate next week, ACS CAN looks forward to advancing this legislation with Senators Gopal and Greenstein and limiting the impact of colorectal cancer on New Jerseyans.

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About ACS CAN

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) makes cancer a top priority for policymakers at every level of government. ACS CAN empowers volunteers across the country to make their voices heard to influence evidence-based public policy change that improves the lives of people with cancer and their families. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We’re more determined than ever to stand together with our volunteers to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.