Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) issued the statement below following the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) releasing final recommendations on mammography screenings for women between the age of 40 and 49 years old.

 “Early this week the USPSTF’s finalized breast cancer screening recommendations, which suggest that women under the age of 50 are less likely to benefit from mammograms. Forseeing this as a problem, I worked with my colleague Debbie Wasserman Schultz on the PALS Act to place a two-year moratorium on implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations. 

 “This legislation was included in a bill, and passed, by Congress back in December; therefore, Congressional intent could not have been clearer. Thousands of women from North Carolina and across the nation have expressed their support of the PALS Act and have shared their personal stories of how early screening saved their lives.

 “As a nurse, I know how critical prevention is to saving lives. We also know there are many different recommendations for breast cancer screening in existence today, particularly by organizations representing physicians that actually diagnose and treat women with breast cancer. Still, the many different recommendations and guidelines have caused confusion for women and health care providers. It’s unfortunate that the Task Force has only compounded upon this stress and confusion.”

 BACKGROUND:

Click here to view H.R. 3339 – the Protect Access to Lifesaving Screenings (PALS) Act.

This legislation would place a two-year moratorium on the USPSTF draft breast cancer screening recommendations. This would allow time for Congress and others to review concerns about the impact these recommendations would have on women being screened for this deadly disease, as well as concerns about the USPSTF process.

In April 2015, the U.S. Preventive Service Task force (USPSTF), an independent advisory arm of HHS, proposed changes to the national breast screening guidelines that would undermine access to mammography for 22 million women between the ages of 40 and 49, including approximately 2.8 million African American women who have the highest rate of mortality from breast cancer. If the guidelines are finalized as drafted, health plans will no longer be required to cover mammograms without cost-sharing for women between the ages of 40 and 49.

Click here to read Rep. Ellmers and Wasserman Schultz’s statements on the American Cancer Society’s update in breast cancer screening guidelines.

Click here to see Ellmers, Wasserman Schultz letter to Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone to Hold a Hearing on the PALS Act.

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Congresswoman Renee Ellmers serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is

Chairwoman of the Republican Women’s Policy Committee.

She represents the Second District of North Carolina which includes all of Fort Bragg.

ellmers.house.gov | 202.225.4531