The non-binding resolution was included in a $1.8 trillion blueprint for federal spending in the next fiscal year. Grassley said approval of the resolution sends an important signal of strong support for The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act.
The legislation for breast and cervical cancer treatment responds to the need to make treatment available to low-income, uninsured women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through a federally-sponsored early detection program. Grassley said that the screening provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a success, "but tragically, many of the women who learn they have cancer through the national screening program have no means by which to get treatment."
Of the 7,000 cases of breast cancer detected by this program since 1990, over 5,300 cases were in women younger than 65 years of age. They don't qualify for Medicare and they don't have other health insurance coverage.
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act would expand the Medicaid program to cover health care for breast and cervical cancer victims who are learn of their cancer through the screening program. To encourage states to create this optional benefit for eligible women, the federal government would provide additional matching funds through the Medicaid program.
Grassley said that the legislation reaches out to the thousands of women who "fall through the cracks of the current system and have no way to pay for treatment after receiving the devastating news that they have breast or cervical cancer."
In making the case for the proposal, he shared the personal experience of an Evansdale, Iowa woman.
After learning of her cancer by the early detection program, Barbara Morrow was left to rely on charity care. She also accumulated more than $70,000 in debt for breast cancer. Morrow told Grassley, "I send what I can each month," yet "my bills are so high I often wonder if I should quit treatment so I will not saddle myself and my family with so much debt. But, my grandson was diagnosed with cancer at age 9. He is now 16 and my daughter and I continue to care for him. I must stay alive to help my daughter and grandson."
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act was introduced last year by the late Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island and has 57 co-sponsors. As a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley is working for consideration of the measure during this session.
Companion legislation in the House of Representatives has the support of 289 members. It is awaiting consideration by the Ways and Means Committee.