American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Montana - ACS CAN

08/21/2026

Grateful to Becky Franks for her continued support and advocacy for all Montanans. Thank you, Becky - we are so proud to have you in our state!

07/21/2026

Access to cancer prevention and treatment should never depend on red tape. Your support matters because expanding access—not limiting it—has been shown to improve survival rates and reduce disparities.

Research shows that individuals without insurance are diagnosed at later stages, when treatment is more expensive and survival is less likely. Administrative hurdles can prevent people from receiving the care they need.

Please sign the petition and share your story at the link below.

https://act.fightcancer.org/a/tell-montana-press-pause-medicaid-work-reporting-requirements

07/08/2026

TODAY! Join our partners at Catalyst Montana at the Capitol Rotunda at 12:00 PM for a Protect Medicaid Access Rally!

07/01/2026

Access to cancer prevention and treatment should never depend on red tape.

About 80,000 Montanans rely on Medicaid for screenings, early detection, and timely treatment. Check out this recent article published in the Daily Montanan by Dr. Jack Hensold, Montana Oncologist and cancer advocate. Research shows that individuals without insurance are diagnosed at later stages, when treatment is more expensive and survival is less likely. Administrative hurdles can prevent people from receiving the care they need.

Your support matters because expanding access—not limiting it—has been shown to improve survival rates and reduce disparities.

06/29/2026

Thank you to the Daily Montanan for letting one of our outstanding advocates, oncologist Dr. Jack Hensold, have the opportunity to let Montanans know why he fears for cancer patients with the early implementation of HR 1 work requirements in Montana starting Wednesday July 1.

Check it out at the link below.

Bozeman oncologist Jack Hensold said that new work requirements will just make it harder for those who need medical treatment to receive it in Montana.

06/09/2026

For many of our neighbors, Medicaid is a lifeline. Unfortunately, changes are coming to Montana's Medicaid program, and we need your help as we monitor these developments.

Last year's federal budget reconciliation legislation - H.R. 1 - adopted new burdensome requirements for Medicaid expansion enrollees, to be implemented by states over the next two years. The most immediate of these changes are work requirements, meaning enrollees now have to report working, volunteering, or attending school for at least 80 hours each month. The law requires states implement these in January 2027, but Montana is among a handful of the states rushing to implement this new program early, on July 1st. We anticipate this will lead to additional confusion, red tape, burdensome bureaucracy, and coverage loss.

Ensuring folks have access to healthcare coverage is key to reducing the cancer burden. ACS CAN has long pushed back against work reporting requirements because of the impact they will have on people impacted by cancer.

It's helpful for us to hear directly from folks most impacted about their experience, and we need your help. Do you know someone who accesses their health care through Medicaid, or who works with folks on Medicaid as a provider or other support, who may be willing to connect with us to share their experience as Montana's Medicaid adopts these new requirements? Or perhaps you have a story to tell about the way your access to healthcare impacted your cancer or other medical care - and how burdensome requirements could have complicated your care?

Please share your story using the below link.

ACS CAN is the leading cancer advocacy organization that is working every day to make cancer issues a national priority.

06/05/2026

05/19/2026

Early implementation of Montana Medicaid work requirements is a troubling direction for cancer patients.
In this article from KTVH, our Government Relations Director, Denver Henderson, underscores what’s at stake:
“For those who have cancer or are at risk of cancer, having access to health care is the first step to beating it. When you can see a doctor on a regular basis, when you can get your cancer screenings on time, when you can afford your cancer treatments, your chances of surviving and beating cancer are much, much better. When you don't have access to those things, that's when it becomes really a life-and-death matter.”

Henderson also shared his disappointment that Montana is moving forward with work requirements before federal mandates are in place and emphasized the need to delay coverage losses.
Read more about the impact on patients and why this matters.

Montana is about a month and a half away from implementing new requirements for people receiving Medicaid coverage.

05/11/2026

Cancer Votes Ambassadors are helping to make the fight against cancer an election issue. By signing up to become a Cancer Votes Ambassador, you'll unlock incredible opportunities to make a difference.