29 Apr Cancer News You Need: Changes to Social Security, Utility Assistance Programs, Rights for 23andMe Customers, & More

April 29, 2025

This blog covers the latest news you need about new federal and state legislation, laws, policies, and programs that may impact the cancer community. This month we have information on changes to how you access your Social Security statement and account, changes to federal agencies that may impact consumers, and news from the states.

National Updates

• Big changes to my Social Security ( my SSA) login:When you sign up for a my SSA account, you can:
  • read letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA)
  • check your Social Security statement
  • see what retirement or disability benefits you may be eligible for
  • apply for disability benefits or track an application

In the past, you could sign in with just a username and password. Now, if you are creating a new my SSA account, or if you made your account before September 18, 2021, and still use a username and password, you’ll need to create a new Login.gov account or ID.me account to sign in. If you need help with this change, visit my SSA’s Sign in Help and Support page.

• A recent JAMA study found that only 18% of eligible people got lung cancer screenings, even though about 60% of those people got breast and colorectal cancer screenings. The main reasons were not having a primary care doctor, complicated rules about who qualifies, and hospitals not doing enough to connect patients with lung cancer screenings.
• HHS Layoffs Eliminate Staff that Ensure Access to Public Health Records.As part of major job cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Trump administration removed many teams that handle Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. These requests help the public get important health records from the government. The cuts have greatly affected agencies like the CDC, FDA, and NIH, and experts are worried about what this means for transparency.
• HHS Layoffs Also Eliminate Staff that Provide Utility Assistance to Low Income Individuals.The Trump administration has fired all workers responsible for managing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program helps millions of low-income households pay for heat during the winter and air during the summer. In response, 13 U.S. Senators have asked the administration to rethink the decision. They warn that ending the program could take away important help from families in need and older adults.
• “ How Many Expansion Adults Could Lose Medicaid Under Federal Work Requirements? ”A recent study looked at proposed federal plans to add work requirements to Medicaid. These plans would make people ages 19 to 55 who get Medicaid through expansion report that they work at least 80 hours each month to keep their health coverage. The study found that up to 5.2 million people could lose their Medicaid, not because they don’t work, but because of problems like not understanding the rules, or with turning in required paperwork because they don’t have reliable internet or transportation.
• Are you a 23andMe customer?California’s Attorney General has shared a warning to help 23andMe customers understand their rights during the company’s bankruptcy. There are concerns about what might happen to the company’s large collection of genetic data.  Learn how you can delete your genetic data, destroy your test samples, and take back permission for your data to be used in research.

State Updates

• Indiana’slawmakers are moving forward with Senate Bill 2, which would make it harder for some people to qualify for Medicaid. These changes would make hospitals use stricter rules when deciding if someone is likely eligible for Medicaid and would allow people to get retroactive benefits for care they received in the past 30 days. Some lawmakers are worried that people in rural areas will struggle with the new rules because they don’t have reliable internet to meet the quarterly check-in requirements.
• Virginia’s Governorhas signed HB 2097 / SB 1314 into law. Starting January 1, 2026, the new law will make prostate cancer screenings free for insured men. This means they won’t have to pay a deductible, copay, or any other costs for the screening.

Stay tuned for more news at the national and state level that may impact the cancer community.

If you are interested in getting more involved in advocate for a policy or law in your state, check out Triage Cancer’s resources on policy and legislative advocacy efforts . You can also watch the recording of the recent Triage Cancer webinar – Getting Engaged in Cancer Advocacy .

About Triage Cancer

Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit providing free education to people diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals on cancer-related  legal and practical issues . Through  events ,  materials , and  resources , Triage Cancer is dedicated to helping people move beyond diagnosis.

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