HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

138

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HAWAII MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AND AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY TO SUPPORT ADEQUATE LEVELS OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES AND TO SUPPORT PHYSICIANS TO BE ALLOWED TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

 

 

WHEREAS, the incidence of breast cancer is increasing in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Native Hawaiians have both the highest incidence and death rate from breast cancer in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has the highest incidence of breast cancer among caucasian women in the United States; and

WHEREAS, routine mammography can markedly reduce the mortality of breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, according to medical research and the American Cancer Society, additional tests including breast ultrasounds and MRIs can further reduce mortality in high risk patients with dense breasts; and

WHEREAS, breast cancer screening is critically underfunded by Medicare and private insurers in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the under-reimbursement of mammography relative to other serious diseases represents a gender bias; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, one-third of mammography units are over five years old, and another third are over ten years old because health care providers cannot afford newer equipment; and

WHEREAS, seven percent of the mammography clinics in Hawaii and across the United States have closed in the past 24 months; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Association, and American Cancer Society are requested to support reimbursement for mammography at levels that allow health care providers to recover costs and acquire current generation imaging equipment, such as computer aided diagnosis and digital mammography; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Association, and American Cancer Society are requested to support the position that physicians should be allowed to provide women with access to technology that can save lives, including computer aided diagnosis, and additional imaging tests to screen women with a high risk of breast cancer; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, President of the Hawaii Medical Association, President of the American Cancer Society, Chair of the Board of Directors of Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, and Director of Cancer Research Center of Hawaii.

 

 

Report Title:

Breast Cancer; Mammography Services