Policy and Advocacy Program

NCCN Policy and Advocacy Program

NCCN works to advance patient access to high-quality, evidence-based cancer care through engagement with policymakers, regulatory agencies, and private and public payers. NCCN’s Policy & Advocacy Department engages at both the federal and state level to advance legislative and regulatory priorities that will improve access to guideline concordant care and the overall quality of cancer in the United States. NCCN actively works with regulatory agencies, payers, and legislators to ensure the appropriate use of NCCN Guidelines and associated clinical content in legislation, regulation, coverage policy, and quality and value programs. NCCN’s Policy and Advocacy Department has made a resolute commitment to advancing cancer equity, actively collaborating with external stakeholders to identify and address systemic barriers, promoting equitable access to quality cancer prevention, treatment, and supportive services. NCCN also develops educational programming and hosts a Policy Summit series tri-annually to explore relevant policy issues in the oncology policy space.

Please send any comments or questions to policy@nccn.org.

Recent Statements

NCCN Congratulates Newly Nominated NCI Director

Read Statement

NCCN Congratulates Newly Confirmed NIH Director

Read Statement

NCCN Findings on Cancer Drug Shortages

Updated Information and Survey from September 2023

Read Press Release View Survey

Initial Information and Survey from June 2023

Read Statement Read Press Release View Survey

Policy Summit Series

NCCN Oncology Policy Summits provide an opportunity for oncology stakeholders to thoughtfully discuss relevant health policy concerns. In 2023, NCCN will hold three Policy Summits, including a patient advocacy summit, that will engage a diverse group of stakeholders, including patients, advocates, clinicians, administrators, payers, regulatory experts, and others.

Navigating the Care Continuum from Screening through Survivorship
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
National Press Club, Washington, D.C. | Virtual attendance also available

NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit: Best Practice and Policies for Addressing the Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Cancer Patients and Survivors
Read the report and view the infographic with learnings from the NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit: Best Practice and Policies for Addressing the Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Cancer Patients and Survivors.

Read the Report View the Infographic

Elevating Cancer Equity

World Cancer Day 2023: NCCN Continues Work to Close the Care Gap

Health Equity Report Card (HERC) | View the Press Release

The Elevating Cancer Equity: Recommendations to Reduce Racial Disparities in Access to Guideline Adherent Cancer Care webinar was held on Monday, February 22, 2021.

View the recorded webinar | View webinar slides

Cancer Moonshot

Nearly 100 Cancer Organizations Urge Congress to Fund Cancer Moonshot Initiatives

Read the Letter Read the Press Release

Policy Priorities and Library of Policy Position Statements

The NCCN Oncology Policy Program supports and advocates for policies that:

Improve and facilitate the quality of cancer care

Ensure patient accessibility to guideline-supported care

Increase use of NCCN Guidelines^® in health policy and coverage determinations

NCCN’s policy priorities are developed and updated by organization leadership with recommendations from our Policy Advisory Group as needed. The positions linked above are intended to endorse policies that further this mission throughout the United States. NCCN's comment letters to federal agencies and the US congress are publicly available and can be found at the policy priority hyperlinks above under the appropriate position statement.

If you are interested in learning more about NCCN’s policy work or would like to inform NCCN of a policy initiative related to our priorities, please contact the policy program at policy@nccn.org.