[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF BREAST CANCER AND PROSTATE CANCER DETECTION BILLS

  (Mrs. VUCANOVICH asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. VUCANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, what do 46,000 women and 240 men have 
in common this year? No, not an interest in the O.J. Simpson trial. 
These people are all expected to die from breast cancer in 1995. I have 
again introduced legislation to help lower income women by requiring 
State Medicaid plans to provide coverage of screening mammography.
  I have also introduced legislation to provide annual mammography 
coverage for Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older. Current law 
permits coverage only every other year for this age group.
  Coverage of early detection techniques should be provided for men as 
well. In 1995, an estimated 40,400 prostate cancer deaths are expected. 
That is why I have introduced bills to provide for Medicaid coverage 
and Medicare coverage, respectively, for prostate cancer screening 
tests--1995 is neither the year of the woman, nor the year of the man. 
It is the year when our citizens get what they asked for--that is, 
peace of mind and good health. I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor 
these lifesaving bills.




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