Reps. Cushingberry, Accavitti, Angerer, Bauer, Bennett, Bieda, Booher, Brown, Byrnes, Condino, Constan, Dean, Gillard, Gonzales, Hammel, Hammon, Hopgood, Robert Jones, Kathleen Law, LeBlanc, Mayes, McDowell, Meisner, Miller, Polidori, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Spade, Stahl, Vagnozzi, Valentine and Warren offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 296.
A resolution to memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to enact the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act.
Whereas, In spite of progress that has been made in its diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer remains one of the most serious threats to the health of women. Its devastating impact is felt across our country. According to the American Cancer Society, excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and accounts for one of every 4 cancers diagnosed. It is estimated that 178,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer were identified in 2007 and that an estimated 40,000 women died; and
Whereas, Although the frightening realities of breast cancer can strike any woman, success in combating the disease is, unfortunately, less universal. A patient's chances of survival are increased with early identification of the disease, access to good care at all stages of treatment, and comprehensive monitoring afterwards; and
Whereas, Congress is considering legislation that would take a strong step in the effort to combat breast cancer in our country. The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, S.459 and H.R.758, would require health plans to provide coverage for minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection for the treatment of breast cancer, as well as secondary consultations. Among the legislation's specific provisions is a requirement that a patient undergoing a mastectomy or lumpectomy to treat breast cancer be permitted a hospital stay of no less than 48 hours; and
Whereas, The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act would increase access to a level of care that can save lives and mitigate suffering; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to enact the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.