WASHINGTON, D.C. -- March 15, 2006 -- The American Cancer Society today expressed extreme disappointment that a Senate health committee approved legislation allowing private health insurers to bypass critical state benefit protections. The “Health Insurance Marketplace, Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006” (S. 1955), which passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today, will next be considered by the full Senate.
The bill will give health insurers the option of offering a “bare bones” health insurance plan, free of any consumer protections enacted at the state level. In exchange, the insurer would have to offer a plan that includes the same protections as any one plan offered to state employees in one of the five most populous states -- California, New York, Illinois, Texas or Florida. The benefit protections at risk include vital cancer screenings, such as mammography, colon cancer screenings and other cancer prevention and treatment services. This requirement doesn't guarantee that employees will have access to these life-saving benefits.
The following is a statement from Daniel E. Smith, the Society’s national vice president of government relations, in response to today’s vote:
“On behalf of the American Cancer Society and its millions of volunteers and supporters, I express our extreme disappointment at the Senate HELP Committee’s passage of this bill, which could undermine the critical work our volunteers and state legislators have done to ensure coverage for life-saving cancer screenings and treatments.
“The vote today represents a step backward in our nation's effort to achieve the Administration's goal of eliminating suffering and death from cancer by 2015. Ensuring access to quality cancer care is critical to this effort. The bill the committee passed today would severely undercut our ability to make sure that more people are screened and have their chances of long-term survival enhanced.
“Expanding affordable health care to more Americans is a worthy goal, but not at the expense of provisions that allow early detection of diseases before they require expensive treatment. We applaud Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) for taking a stand and offering amendments that would have preserved coverage guarantees for vital cancer screenings and several other critical health care provisions. We also thank those lawmakers who remained steadfast in their support of our efforts.
“We call on Senators to oppose the current version of this bill when it reaches the Senate floor and to protect access to critical cancer screening and treatment services.”
The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Trista Hargrove
Phone: (202) 585-3221
Email: [email protected]