IV
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 167
Expressing the sense of the Congress that any comprehensive health care
reform legislation that is enacted should ensure that women receive
appropriate breast and cervical cancer screenings and general gyneco-
logical care consistent with current medical standards.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 19, 1993
Mr. NADLER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that any comprehensive
health care reform legislation that is enacted should en-
sure that women receive appropriate breast and cervical
cancer screenings and general gynecological care consist-
ent with current medical standards.
Whereas, in 1993, breast and cervical cancers will affect
195,000 women in the United States and will result in
50,400 deaths;
Whereas, in the 1990s, over 500,000 women in the United
States will lose their lives to breast and cervical cancers;
Whereas the medical complications associated with sexually
transmitted diseases can be extremely serious in women;
•HCON 167 IH
Whereas millions of women each year are affected by such
diseases, which often remain undiagnosed; and
Whereas improved access to preventive care will benefit all
women in the United States and their families by reduc-
ing needless suffering and loss of life caused by breast
and cervical cancers and sexually transmitted diseases:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that any
national comprehensive benefit package that results from
health care reform legislation (and the medicare program,
but only with respect to items or services that are provided
to women who are at least 65 years of age) should cover
all preventive and treatment services relating to breast
and cervical cancers, sexually transmitted diseases, and
general gynecological health, including the following:
(1) Annual pap smears and gynecological exams
for women who have reached childbearing age, are at
least 16 years of age, or are sexually active.
(2) Any gynecological exam or test performed
because a woman suspects that she may have a gyn-
ecological infection or because a woman is in need
of any other gynecological health service, but only if
the exam or test has been recommended by her phy-
sician or a specialist referred to in paragraph (5).
(3) Annual mammograms for women who are at
least 40 years of age unless, in the opinion of the
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physician of a woman or a specialist referred to in
paragraph (5), such a mammogram should not be
provided because of a risk to the woman from re-
peated radiation exposure.
(4) Annual mammograms for women under the
age of 40 if—
(A) the woman is a high-risk patient based
on her family history or based on her residence
in an environment where breast cancer rates
are higher than the national average unless, in
the opinion of her physician or a specialist re-
ferred to in paragraph (5), such a mammogram
should not be provided because of a risk to the
woman from repeated radiation exposure; or
(B) the woman requests a mammogram
and it has been recommended by her physician
or a specialist referred to in paragaph (5).
(5) The cost of a second opinion concerning the
medical necessity or appropriateness of an item or
service described in paragraph (2), (3), or (4) per-
formed by a specialist selected by the woman
concerned.
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