Women's Health
Despite Increase in Mastectomies, Women Are Not Aware of Their Reconstructive Rights
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May 17, 2016 - 3:49:28 PM
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - WASHINGTON - (May 17, 2016) – Now that the number of mastectomies is increasing significantly, advocates and experts fighting for improved treatments for invasive breast cancer today called for swift action by Congress and the Obama Administration to implement the provisions of the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act of 2015 (BCPEA) so women will understand their reconstruction options at the time of diagnosis.
Assembling at a briefing on Capitol Hill, women’s health and cancer advocates celebrated BCPEA’s enactment as an important victory but urged rapid implementation because many women remain unaware about their reconstruction rights. Accordingly, the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR®) urged the U.S. Congress to appropriate the funds necessary for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fulfill its responsibilities under BCPEA, which mandates a national education campaign on the availability and insurance coverage of breast reconstruction and prostheses. Since passage of the Women’s Health Care and Cancer Rights Act in 1998, health plans that offer breast cancer coverage are required to provide coverage for breast reconstruction and prostheses.
Along with action by Congress, SWHR called on HHS to take the initial steps to implement BCPEA, such as updating existing materials created by the Office of Women's Health and the Office of Minority Health and disseminating this content through the websites of relevant federal agencies.
“Passing BCPEA, frankly, is the beginning of the journey, not the end,” said Phyllis Greenberger, MSW, President and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR). “That is why we are calling for action to implement BCPEA on an expedited basis.”
Read the full press release on our website.
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