Kennedy colo-rectal cancer bill benefits everyone 50 and over

American Cancer Society
Thursday, 13 May 1999

Washington 1999/05/13 -Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD) introduced legislation today which would enable insured patients over 50 to meet with their doctors, to discuss colo-rectal cancer screening options and to make an informed decision about which test is right for them. The bill, entitled The Eliminate Colo-Rectal Cancer Act of 1999, requires all health insurance providers to cover the decision made by the doctor and patient. Colo-rectal screening consists of a combination of any of four options: fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or a double contrast barium enema.

"Everyone can rally around this legislation because colo-rectal cancer is a disease which affects men and women over 50 at nearly the same rate," said Bernard Levin, MD, American Cancer Society volunteer colo-rectal cancer advisory group chair. "No one is immune, and everyone should be able to make informed screening choices without worrying about whether or not their insurance will cover it. Colo-rectal cancer is a killer that can be conquered when discovered early through routine screening. In fact, it can be prevented through screening when polyps are discovered and removed.

"Unfortunately, screening rates for this type of cancer are appallingly low. We must get beyond the almost taboo topic of colo-rectal cancer-it has an alarming death rate. With this bill, Sen. Kennedy, Rep. Slaughter and Rep. Morella are showing how important it is for older Americans to get themselves checked," Levin said.

Earlier this year, the American Cancer Society voiced support for Rep. Carolyn Maloney's (D-NY) and Rep. Sue Kelly's (R-NY) Cancer Screening Coverage Act, or CASCA. The bill would require health plans to cover routine cancer screenings for breast, prostate, cervical and colo-rectal cancers.

"In no way does Sen. Kennedy's bill detract or take away from the comprehensive legislative approach we traditionally use to advocate on behalf of cancer issues. This legislation is a perfect complement to CASCA. The Eliminate Colo-Rectal Cancer Act of 1999 further upholds and emphasizes critical cancer needs-for doctors and patients to decide together what screening method is best for him or her and to prevent cookie-cutter, one-test-fits-all medicine that many health insurers practice," added Levin.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org