October 12,2000

Roth Applauds House Passage of Senate Breast Cancer Bill

Bill Goes to President for Signature

WASHINGTON -- Senate Finance Committee Chairman William V. Roth, Jr. (R-DE) today applauded House approval of his version of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act which immediately creates an optional new Medicaid eligibility category for low income women who receive a diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer through a federal screening program. The bill was approved unanimously by the Senate on October 4, 2000. Since the House passed the Senate version, a House-Senate Conference is not necessary. The bill will go directly to the President for signing.

"I am pleased that the House has passed the version of this bill that will dramatically improve the lives of lower-income women faced with a terrifying diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer. I hope that President Clinton sign this bill into law," Roth stated.

"Ten years ago, Congress created the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, through the Centers for Disease Control, to help lower-income women receive the early detection services that are the best protection against breast and cervical cancer. This important program has served more than a million women in subsequent years. However, the screening program does not include a treatment component. Instead, women who receive a cancer diagnosis must rely on informal networks of donated care. This bill makes treatment available through the Medicaid program."