SCAN Health Plan Announces Partnership with American Cancer Society

New Collaboration will Focus on Prevention, Early Detection and Managing Cancer as a “Chronic Condition” for Affected Seniors

(LONG BEACH, Calif. – September 26, 2011) — SCAN Health Plan, the fourth largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage health plan in the country, announced today that it has entered into a new partnership with the California division of the American Cancer Society to bring SCAN’s more than 130,000 members vital cancer prevention and early detection messages. The collaboration will also focus on how seniors and others on Medicare can manage cancer as a “chronic condition” thanks to new medical advances and constantly emerging information on the disease.

“One of the most effective ways we can enhance and manage our members’ health is through thoughtful and caring partnerships with organizations that have proven to make a difference,” said Timothy Schwab, M.D., chief medical officer of SCAN. “By working with the American Cancer Society, we can better support our members with facts and information on prevention, detection and disease management.”

Approximately 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer every year, making cancer the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. But thanks to heightened awareness, early detection and incredible scientific advances, the number of people surviving some of the most common types of cancer has doubled over the past 60 years. For those individuals living with cancer – estimated to be as many as 12 million people in the United States alone – cancer can more and more be viewed as a “chronic condition” that can in many cases be managed through proper medical attention.

“With proper screenings many cancers can be detected early, when they are most likely to be curable,” explained Dr. Schwab. “In other cases recurrent cancer may not be cured, but it can often be controlled for months or even years and allow those afflicted by the disease to lead a quality of life with their family and friends.”

To help deliver this message, SCAN will join with the American Cancer Society in media and marketing outreach efforts throughout the coming year. In addition, the American Cancer Society will help organize education and resource trainings for SCAN case managers, offer patient-referral services to members though the Society’s Stephanie H. Lane Cancer Resource Network, and develop prevention and early detection messages.

“Together, SCAN and the American Cancer Society want to help people throughout California work to prevent cancer or detect it early when it’s most treatable,” said David Veneziano, CEO of the California division, American Cancer Society. “And if there is a cancer diagnosis, we are committed to helping them through every step of their cancer experience. As the Official Sponsor of Birthdays, the American Cancer Society is saving lives and creating more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer. ”

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of seniors and is now the country’s fourth largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan. The company currently has nearly 130,000 members in California and Arizona. Further information may be obtained at scanhealthplan.com.