ESHOO PRESERVES COVERAGE FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER TREATMENT UNDER MEDCAID

WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday unanimously adopted an amendment offered by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) to preserve coverage for breast and cervical cancer treatment under Medicaid. Funding for this treatment program was threatened by a Republican bill that cuts over $10 billion from Medicaid.

“I’m relieved for the millions of underinsured and uninsured women across the country who will continue to have coverage for the treatment of breast and cervical cancer,� said Eshoo. “This amendment saved the coverage from the chopping block. I only wish we could have stopped the other cuts to Medicaid, which is our nation’s healthcare safety net.�

In 2000, Rep. Eshoo introduced the Breast Cancer and Cervical Treatment Act, which allows states to use Medicaid dollars to provide health treatment coverage for low-income women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. Before enactment of this law, Medicaid only provided coverage for the diagnosis but not treatment of these deadly cancers. The law enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support, and to date, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have used it to offer treatment for women who do not have private insurance coverage.

The amendment ensures that states will continue to have the federal government as a partner for providing this critical care.

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