WASHINGTON, D.C. -- April 27, 2006 -- In the face of small business health plan legislation that could deny insurance coverage for mammograms to millions of women, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) today launched an advertising campaign in opposition to the bill, which could be debated by the U.S. Senate as early as next month.
ACS CAN, the sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, is sponsoring print and online ads in 11 target states and Washington, D.C. that focus attention on the bill’s potential to undercut state laws that ensure coverage for mammograms and other lifesaving cancer screenings. A total of 49 states currently require insurance coverage for mammograms.
The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (S. 1955) threatens access to lifesaving mammograms and other cancer prevention and treatment services by allowing private health plans to bypass state requirements for insurance coverage as long as they also offer a plan that includes the same protections as a plan offered to state employees in the five most populous states – California, New York, Illinois, Texas or Florida.
One version of the ad features a red bra and declares “Don’t Let the U.S. Senate Leave Women Exposed.” Another version displays the photo of a multi-generational family of women and says “Mammograms save lives. Help us save mammograms. Don’t let the U.S. Senate take away coverage for mammograms.”
The ads may be viewed on the ACS CAN Web site, https://www.fightcancer.org/savemammograms. They already have resulted in nearly 1,000 calls and 16,000 emails to senators from Society volunteers across the country who oppose S. 1955.
“Society volunteers and staff have worked for years with state legislators to pass laws that ensure access to critical cancer screenings and treatments,” said Daniel E. Smith, the Society’s national vice president of government affairs. “S. 1955 would undo these state efforts to more effectively prevent, detect and treat cancer.”
State coverage requirements result in higher screening rates for life-threatening diseases such as cancer. For example, 11 states passed laws between 1999 and 2001 requiring insurance coverage of colorectal (colon) cancer screenings for 50-64 year olds. By 2004, screening rates in those states had risen 40 percent faster than the rates in states without such laws.
ACS CAN is also working with AARP and the American Diabetes Association (ADA), as well as the greater public health community, to encourage grassroots opposition to S. 1955. ACS CAN, AARP and ADA have joined in a nationwide ad campaign will begin Sunday in the Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Times and Capitol Hill publications. A similar ad ran last Sunday in 18 states.
In addition, Society volunteers across the country have been contacting their Members of Congress and holding local events encouraging senators to vote no on the bill. Their efforts will culminate in a National Week of Action beginning May 1.
ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society. ACS CAN is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major public health problem through issue campaigns and voter education aimed at influencing candidates and lawmakers to support laws and policies that will help people fight cancer. ACS CAN does not endorse candidates and is not a political action committee (PAC). For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Steven Weiss
Phone: (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected]