New legislation provides women 40 to 49 with free mammograms

Pat Halpin-Murphy, President & Founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, expresses her gratitude to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for passing HB1606 by a unanimous vote of 197-0. This legislation, known as the Women's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act, was introduced on the floor of the House on June 13 by Representative George Kenney, Chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) had requested the introduction of legislation to address the need for access to mammograms for women 40 to 49, emphasizing the importance of early detection as a critical step in combating the disease. Women 50 to 64 are currently eligible to receive mammograms through the PA Department of Health's HealthyWoman Project. The PBCC's request for legislation was answered by Representative Kenney and HB1606.

"It was my pleasure to sponsor this bill on behalf of the PBCC," said Representative Kenney. "Early detection of breast and cervical cancer is of utmost importance. Studies have shown that the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 96 percent if it is detected early, but declines to 21 percent in later stages."

"On behalf of the many women whose lives can and will be saved by this legislation, the PBCC and I wish to thank the members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for recognizing the overwhelming need for mammograms for women 40 to 49. With your unanimous vote in favor of HB1606, the Pennsylvania House has clearly shown its commitment to women's health and the fight against breast cancer. I am pleased to count the members of the House as partners in the PBCC's mission of finding a cure now ... so our daughters won't have to," said Halpin-Murphy.

The bill is likely to be introduced on the Senate floor once the General Assembly returns from their summer recess, and Governor Edward G. Rendell has agreed to sign the legislation once it has been passed by both chambers.

Under the proposed legislation, women between 40 to 49 years of age who have a family income not exceeding 250% of the Federal poverty level and no other access to health insurance coverage would be eligible for screening mammograms, clinical breast examinations, Pap tests, and pelvic examinations. Women who are younger than 40 years of age with a family history that necessitates annual screening services would also be eligible.

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization and the only statewide grassroots organization that speaks to and for breast cancer survivors. This year, more than 12,000 Pennsylvania women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 2,300 will lose their lives to the disease. The PBCC's mission is to help find a cure for breast cancer and to improve the quality of breast cancer education, research and outreach in the state.