[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 2 (Thursday, January 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE MEDICARE MAMMOGRAPHY ENHANCEMENT ACT

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                        HON. BARBARA B. KENNELLY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 1997

  Mrs. KENNELLY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the facts on breast cancer 
are well known: 44,000 women die from the disease every year in this 
Nation. The tragedy of this loss is escalated by the fact that some and 
perhaps even many of these deaths are preventable.
  In short, mammography can and does save lives. As any doctor will 
tell you, the earlier you find breast cancer, the less likely it is to 
be fatal. A mammogram can find 85 to 90 percent of breast cancer tumors 
in women as much as 2 years before they can be detected by self-
examination. Routine screening for breast cancer is therefore vitally 
important, especially for older women. Both the American Cancer Society 
and the National Cancer Institute recommend annual mammograms for women 
over 50 years of age.
  Unfortunately, Medicare only covers mammograms every other year. 
Furthermore, the 20 percent copayment for the service and the annual 
Medicare deductible deter many women from getting the screening. The 
Medicare Mammography Enhancement Act would eliminate these barriers to 
women receiving life-saving mammograms. The legislation would require 
Medicare to cover annual mammograms and would waive the 20-percent 
copayment and any deductible costs for the screening.
  Mr. Speaker, a few years ago many of us in Congress fought to make 
sure Medicare included coverage for at least biannual mammograms. We 
argued that it made good sense for Medicare to cover a test that could 
save so many lives at such little expense. The same can be said of this 
legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this effort to save 
lives.

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