PRINTER'S NO. 546
No. 52 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY ORIE, LAVALLE, FONTANA, BOSCOLA, TARTAGLIONE,
MADIGAN, RHOADES, WAUGH, ERICKSON, O'PAKE, MUSTO, FOLMER,
COSTA, STOUT, RAFFERTY, FERLO, GREENLEAF, McILHINNEY,
WONDERLING, BROWNE, D. WHITE, BRUBAKER, KASUNIC, PIPPY,
ARMSTRONG, TOMLINSON, WASHINGTON, STACK AND DINNIMAN,
MARCH 19, 2007
REFERRED TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 19, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to create a Pink
2 Ribbon Advisory Committee to study the timely detection of
3 breast cancer.
4 WHEREAS, Since 1969, death due to breast cancer has occurred
5 more frequently among women living in Pennsylvania than among
6 women living in the United States as a whole; and
7 WHEREAS, Since the last decade of the 20th century, breast
8 cancer mortality rates began declining in the United States and
9 in Pennsylvania; and
10 WHEREAS, Many women in this Commonwealth are continuing to
11 live normal lives because of early breast cancer detection; and
12 WHEREAS, Many women in this Commonwealth have been afforded
13 the opportunity to undergo breast cancer screening; and
14 WHEREAS, The combination of detection through screening and
15 treatment with more effective therapies has prolonged the lives
16 of women with breast cancer; and
1 WHEREAS, Some women, despite screening, have succumbed to
2 cancers that were not detected in their early stages; and
3 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth seeks to increase early breast
4 cancer detection so that more women may live out their normal
5 life spans; and
6 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania, with its many medical schools,
7 teaching hospitals, world-renowned cancer specialists and breast
8 surgeons and cancer and breast centers, is fortunate to have the
9 expertise available to recommend what may be done to increase
10 early breast cancer detection; therefore be it
11 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
12 Commission to conduct a study on the timely detection of breast
13 cancer; and be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission study at
15 least all of the following:
16 (1) The state of breast cancer screening technology and
17 the cost of that technology.
18 (2) The education and training of persons who perform
19 breast cancer screenings and interpret the results.
20 (3) The number of qualified breast imaging specialists
21 and mammography radiologists.
22 (4) The number of screening and treatment professionals
23 and paraprofessionals in relation to the number of women in
24 this Commonwealth.
25 (5) The accessibility of women in rural areas to
26 professionals and paraprofessionals.
27 (6) The existence of guidelines for breast imaging or
28 mammography.
29 (7) The incidence of adherence to the guidelines.
30 (8) The existence of and adherence to guidelines for
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1 follow-up with women found to have abnormal symptoms.
2 (9) The need to create guidelines or standards of care
3 for detection and follow-up in this Commonwealth.
4 (10) The adequacy of provider reimbursement by public
5 and private sectors.
6 (11) The availability of insurance for first and second
7 opinions.
8 (12) The information made available to women who have
9 been found to have abnormal symptoms;
10 and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission create a
12 Pink Ribbon Advisory Committee composed of individuals from
13 breast centers and cancer centers and rural breast centers and
14 cancer centers; breast imaging radiologists, breast surgeons,
15 primary care providers, including family practitioners and
16 obstetrician-gynecologists; mammography/breast imaging
17 technologists; administrators of mammography and imaging
18 facilities; insurance industry representatives; the Pennsylvania
19 Cancer Alliance; representatives of advocacy groups such as the
20 Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the Susan B. Komen
21 Foundation; representatives of the Pennsylvania Division of the
22 American Cancer Society; and representatives of any other
23 interested parties the commission chooses to assist in its
24 deliberations; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the commission provide the Senate with its
26 findings and recommendations on how Pennsylvania can increase
27 the detection of breast cancer; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the commission report its findings and
29 recommendations to the Senate no later than September 2008.
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