MARIETTA (Feb. 10, 2010) – State Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta) has authored a resolution urging the United States Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services to ignore recent guidelines issued by the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) stating breast cancer screenings can be delayed until age 50. Hill, a leading advocate for health care rights in Georgia, has received near-unanimous support in the Senate with 53 of his colleagues co-sponsoring his legislation.
“Most of us believe that women must have every opportunity to protect themselves with early screenings and maximize the chances for early detection of cancers,” said Hill.
Hill’s resolution (Senate Resolution 915) stems from a USPSTF recommendation to delay initial mammograms for women from age 40 to age 50. The USPSTF also stated in their guidelines that women should receive biennial screenings as opposed to yearly checkups. Hill noted that if these polices are adopted it will severely hinder the ability of insurance companies to cover early breast cancer screenings and potentially endanger the lives of women if early cancer screenings become more expensive.
“Expanding screenings to women in their 40’s has led to a 30 percent decrease in annual deaths from breast cancer over the past few decades. Delaying screenings and mammograms can allow cancers to grow without detection until it’s too late. What is needed is increased awareness and affordable mammograms to help save lives,” said Hill.
SR 915 was recently approved by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and will soon be taken up for a full vote in the Senate.
Sen. Judson Hill serves as Chairman of Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee and the Republican Caucus Vice Chairman. He represents the 32nd Senate District which includes portions of Cobb and Fulton counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0150 or by e-mail at judson.hill@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 10, 2010
For Information Contact:
Matt Colvin, Broadcast Specialist
matthew.colvin@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028