“The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) congratulates Xavier Becerra on his confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Secretary Becerra is now in a key position to lead HHS during the agency’s continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to address the many challenges facing patients and providers across the cancer care delivery system, such as health care disparities and the high cost of care.

“In his most recent role as attorney general of California, Secretary Becerra worked to improve access to insurance benefits as well as COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and treatment for Californians. Before that, he served as a Member of Congress for 24 years, during which he worked on issues such as expanding access to health insurance, ensuring appropriate Medicare and Medicaid benefits and reimbursement, strengthening tobacco prevention and control, reducing health disparities, lowering prescription drug prices, and more.

“ASCO is looking forward to working with Secretary Becerra and HHS to improve the quality and equity of cancer care across the United States. Collaboration between the agency and ASCO will be particularly important as we continue to navigate and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and during the implementation of important initiatives such as the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act and voluntary demonstrations of new physician payment models.”