[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2334-S2335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMERICAN HEART MONTH

  Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of February as 
American Heart Month. As a strong supporter of the American Heart 
Association, I want to make clear that prevention of heart disease 
should be a priority of health care funding. I have always believed 
that focusing resources on prevention will save lives as well as 
taxpayers dollars.
  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Missouri and in the 
United States. Almost 18,000 people in Missouri died of heart disease 
in 1999.

[[Page S2335]]

Many women believe that heart disease is a man's disease, so they fail 
to perceive it as a serious health threat. Every year since 1984, 
cardiovascular diseases have claimed the lives of more women than men. 
And, the gap between male and female deaths continues to grow wider. 
The national statistics are even more startling. Heart disease is the 
number one killer of women in the United States, claiming more than 
250,000 women per year.
  Sadly, an American dies from cardiovascular disease approximately 
every 33 seconds. More than 61 million Americans--one in five males and 
females--suffer from heart disease, stroke or another cardiovascular 
disease. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Missouri and in 
the United States. Almost 4,000 people in Missouri died of stroke in 
1999. Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases claim 
more lives each year than the next five leading causes of death 
combined.
  We know the causes of cardiovascular disease--one of them is high 
blood cholesterol. High cholesterol is a leading risk factor for heart 
disease and stroke. Approximately 42 million Americans have total blood 
cholesterol levels of 240 milligrams per deciliter and higher. These 
individuals are considered at high risk for developing coronary heart 
disease, which leads to heart attack.
  I know that something can be done to combat heart disease and save 
American lives, and that is why I joined Senator Dorgan in cosponsoring 
of The Medicare Cholesterol Screening Coverage Act of 2003. This 
legislation adds blood cholesterol screening as a covered benefit for 
Medicare beneficiaries, at a frequency and in a manner determined by 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, (HHS). This is consistent 
with guidelines issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
Institute, which recommend that all Americans over the age of 20 be 
screened for high cholesterol at least once every five years. 
Currently, Medicare only covers cholesterol and other lipid testing for 
patients who already suffer from known disease such as heart disease, 
stroke, or other disorders associated with elevated cholesterol levels.
  This bill also provides flexibility to allow the Secretary of HHS to 
cover future cardiovascular screening tests that might become the 
standard of care in the future, so that Medicare can keep pace with 
changes in medicine. Congress has already acted to cover other 
screening tests such as bone mass measurement, glaucoma screenings, and 
screenings for colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer. Now is the time 
to also extend Medicare coverage for cholesterol screening.
  In recognizing February as American Heart Month, I urge my colleagues 
to act on The Medicare Cholesterol Screening Coverage Act of 2003, and 
I thank Senator Dorgan for his leadership on this issue. I also urge my 
colleagues to join me to prioritize legislation to help prevent heart 
disease.

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