The American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable strategic plan: Strengthening connections between state-based initiatives

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for almost 25% of cancer deaths in both men and women. Like many cancers, lowering lung cancer incidence and mortality rates is complicated by challenges across the broad spectrum of risk reduction, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. However, lung cancer is uniquely burdened with stigma, nihilism, tobacco industry influence, and a need for streamlined health care planning and delivery. Methods: In 2017, the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable was formed as a consortium of public, private, and voluntary organizations working together to impact lung cancer by engaging in targeted research and initiatives that no single one organization can address individually. Within the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, the State-Based Initiatives Task Group focuses on similar local and regional implementation challenges to improve care and reduce lung cancer deaths. To accomplish this work, the task group has developed a strategic framework that prioritizes focus areas, establishes a structure to collaborate on projects, provides support, incorporates findings into existing tools, and disseminates results. Results: This strategic framework has been used to create the State-Based Initiatives planning tool, evaluate needs in state-based work, and investigate insurance steerage (the practice of insurance companies directing policyholders to specific health care providers, facilities, or services within their preferred network to control costs and manage care). Conclusions: Strategic planning allows State-Based Initiatives Task Group Members to leverage the successes of individual states through a structured approach and accelerates the dissemination of proven strategies across the United States.