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H.C.R. 2
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RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING CANCER
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SCREENING
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2000 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Sponsor: Marda Dillree
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
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ENCOURAGING PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES AND EMPLOYERS TO
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INCLUDE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE SCREENING AND DETECTION OF
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BREAST, COLORECTAL, AND PROSTATE CANCER.
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Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
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WHEREAS, the only states without mandates for private health plans to cover or offer
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coverage of mammography screening are Utah and Wyoming;
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WHEREAS, scientific evidence has demonstrated that mammography is safe and effective
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and is the best way to detect breast cancers early, when they are most treatable, and that additional
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lives are saved if women over the age of 40 get mammograms every year;
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WHEREAS, the Department of Health is required to provide subsidized screening
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mammography for low-income women, and all state Medicaid programs cover mammography
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screenings;
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WHEREAS, breast cancer affects more than 175,000 women in the United States each
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year;
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WHEREAS, colorectal cancer, which is diagnosed in 131,000 Americans annually, is the
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primary cause of cancer death in the millions of Americans who have never used tobacco;
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WHEREAS, early detection testing for colorectal cancer has been definitively proven to
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consistently lower disease specific mortality, yet most Americans have not been screened for
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colorectal cancer;
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WHEREAS, early-detection testing for colorectal cancer is arguably the most powerful,
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underused lifesaving examination available in the United States;
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WHEREAS, colorectal screening helps prevent colon cancer through early detection of
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polyps before they progress into cancer;
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WHEREAS, prostate cancer affects 1 in 9 men in the United States and causes 37,000
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deaths annually;
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WHEREAS, annual prostate testing for men between the ages of 50 and 75 is the best way
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to find prostate cancer and potentially save thousands of lives; and
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WHEREAS, screening for breast, colorectal and prostate cancer facilitates early detection
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which extends many lives, reduces treatment and costs of treatment and improves the quality of
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life for cancer patients:
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
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Governor concurring therein, encourage employers within the state of Utah to become better
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educated about the benefits of regular mammography, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening and
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to provide insurance coverage for annual screening for middle aged and older employees.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage health
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insurance companies in Utah to cover or offer to cover in all health insurance policies, annual
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mammography, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage all
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citizens of Utah to become better educated about the health benefits and health care cost benefits
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of early cancer detection through mammography, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to each of Utah's
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Chambers of Commerce and the Utah Health Insurance Association.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-11-00 10:26 AM
A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.