Improving Vital Status Data Using Text Searches

To discuss role of the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program (CSP) in achieving legislative success for cancer reporting in California and encourage others to advocate for public health policies in support of cancer registry initiatives.

With other registry colleagues, we identified improvements for cancer reporting, and as subject-matter experts, informed legislative and policy action to eliminate barriers to these improvements.

California Assembly Bill 1823 and Assembly Bill 2325 unanimously passed both houses of the legislature.

While there may be hesitation to engage in advocacy for cancer surveillance, the solution lies in improving the understanding of cancer registry employees' permissible involvement in legislative processes. Being informed on policies that govern California, the CSP was able to contribute to legislative changes to enhance the registry and benefit cancer surveillance and control in California.