This workgroup identifies policy gaps that may inadvertently increase the cancer burden or increase the risk of cancer for New Mexicans, informs partners of state and federal legislative activities and advocacy opportunities related to cancer, and supports coalition-building efforts to address policy change. As a neutral, non-partisan workgroup of the New Mexico Cancer Council, the workgroup achieves its goals to reduce cancer risk factors and improve equitable access to screening, diagnosis, care, and treatment services for all New Mexicans by collecting and analyzing data and information; sharing information through webinars, policy briefs, and other materials; and providing opportunities for coalition-building across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Each year, the Workgroup will develop a workplan to identify specific policy priorities for the year.
The workgroup does not use state or federal funds for lobbying and has no paid employees.
Topics the workgroup may address include the following:
- Reducing the cancer health workforce shortage statewide and in rural areas and improving referral systems, follow-up, and continuity of care
- Improving equitable access to high-quality, affordable screening, diagnostic, care, and treatment services for all New Mexicans
- Reducing financial toxicity of cancer diagnosis, especially for low-income New Mexicans
- Reducing risk factors for cancer, including behavioral and environmental risk factors associated with increased cancer risk
For more information, contact Angie Gomez Martelli at Angie.GomezMartelli@doh.nm.gov or Rob Grilley at rob.grilley@cancer.org.