June 2, 2026
Episode 48: How Health Care Policy Shapes Cancer Screening and Prevention
When people think about cancer screenings, they think about doctors, tests and appointments.
What they don’t think about? Policy.
But policy quietly determines who gets screened, and whether they can afford it.
In this episode of the miniVHAN podcast’s series on Cancer Screening and Prevention, Maddie Michael of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network explains how policy decisions shape cancer prevention, access and outcomes across communities.
Policy Is Embedded in Everyday Life — Including in Your Health
“Policy is in everything,” Michael explains. “And health care is no exception — whether it’s access to health care, screenings, prevention, healthy foods — all of that boils down to policy.”
This means cancer outcomes aren’t just influenced by medicine but shaped by the systems delivering them.
Access to Cancer Screenings
Policies that eliminate out-of-pocket costs can dramatically increase participation and save lives. In Tennessee, Michael celebrated the passing of PSA Screening for HIM Act, which eliminated out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer screenings.
Working closely with the Tennessee Department of Health, Michael was also able to stand up a colorectal cancer screening program to catch cancer early when it’s easier and more cost-effective to treat.”
The truth is, for many patients, the decision to get screened isn’t just about awareness. The real barrier is an impossible tradeoff:
“Am I going to put food on my table, or am I going to get my medication?”
Michael points out these are the decisions that only policy has the power to eliminate.
The Biggest Gap: Rural and Underserved Communities
Cancer prevention must extend far beyond just screenings to include the environments people live and work in.
“Tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States,” Michael says.
Tennessee has the third-highest adult smoking rate. That’s why Michael focuses more on tobacco prevention and control in Southern states.
Policies around smoking, food access and public health protections reduce cancer risk at a population level.
“It’s figuring out how we can help the people in our individual states in a way that will have the biggest impact on the cancer burden.”
Unfortunately, though, not all communities experience health care the same way. Distance to care, transportation challenges and lack of services often result in rural communities being “left behind.”
This is where policy and community-based solutions must work together.
Advocacy: The Bridge Between Patients and Policy
One of the most powerful forces in shaping health care policy isn’t institutions. It’s people.
As a former congressional aide, Michael saw firsthand the driver of real change: real stories.
“I saw that advocacy and patient voices made a huge difference,” she says. “We’re training folks across Tennessee, across the nation, to raise up their voice …I think they’d be surprised that it matters to their legislators.”
While policy may feel distant, it’s truly shaped by real conversations. And cancer, as Michael puts it, is a unifying issue: “Cancer is nonpartisan.”
Improving outcomes means addressing medicine, access and policy together. But at the center of all of this is a simple truth: “Your voice matters.”
Connect with Our Guests
Government Relation Director – Tennessee American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
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