Transforming the Health System

Implementing a National Cancer Health Disparities Strategy

Challenge: Cancer health disparities remain a persistent and challenging issue that has not resonated with policymakers and the general public to inspire action for change.

Goal: Develop a case statement and messages that describe the societal and economic cost of cancer health disparities that will resonate with the public and policymakers for use by stakeholders in their advocacy efforts and develop a long term, collaborative strategy to eliminate cancer health disparities.

Leadership:

  • Armin Weinberg, PhD (Intercultural Cancer Council, Baylor College of Medicine), Co-Chair
  • Harold Freeman, MD (Ralph Lauren Cancer Center), Co-Chair

Focus of Effort:

  • As part of an evolving long-term strategy, develop and disseminate the “Societal and Economic Impact of Cancer Health Disparities Case Statement” and associated advocacy messages.

Scope of Work:

  • Develop and disseminate the “Societal and Economic Impact of Cancer Health Disparities Case Statement.”
  • Convene briefings with policymakers and stakeholders on the case statement.
  • Develop and implement a plan that assures support from the C-Change membership to address cancer health disparities as one of their programmatic and/or policy priorities.
  • Coordinate and integrate C-Change’s efforts with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) multi-sector driven “National Partnership to End Health Disparities”.

Recent Progress:

  • Commissioned and completed the “Societal and Economic Impact of Cancer Health Disparities Case Statement.”
  • Convened Advisory Committee to develop a strategy for an advocacy and messaging campaign based upon the Case Statement for target audiences which will include policy makers and the general public.
  • Analyzed key provisions of the health care reform legislation that impact cancer health disparity efforts and disseminated to the Advisory Committee to identify unique opportunities for C-Change action.

Next Steps for 2011:

  • Publish and disseminate the “Societal and Economic Impact of Cancer Health Disparities Case Statement.”
  • Develop advocacy messages for use by the C-Change membership and other stakeholders.
  • Engage C-Change membership to use advocacy messages and address cancer health disparities as one of their programmatic and/or policy priorities.
  • Convene briefings with policymakers on the “Societal and Economic Impact of Cancer Health Disparities Case Statement.”
  • Prioritize opportunities for policy involvement stemming from health reform provisions.
  • Continue to coordinate and integrate C-Change’s cancer health disparities strategy into the efforts of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) multi-sector driven “National Partnership to End Cancer Health Disparities.”

Advisory Committee