10 LC 28
4887
Senate
Resolution 915
By:
Senators Hill of the 32nd, Rogers of the 21st, Unterman of the 45th, Buckner of
the 44th, Harp of the 29th and others
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the United States Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ignore the recent guidelines for
breast cancer screenings by the United States Preventive Services Task Force;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently issued
guidelines for breast cancer screenings which delay initial mammograms for women
from age 40 to age 50; and
WHEREAS,
the USPSTF guidelines provide for biennial screenings for women in their 50's in
contrast to current guidelines which provide for yearly mammograms;
and
WHEREAS,
the USPSTF seems overly concerned with the harm of screenings, such as
discomfort from the mammography procedure and anxiety due to recall, ultrasound,
and needle biopsies; and
WHEREAS,
the public understands that mammography is not a perfect test and is willing to
accept minor inconveniences in order to maximize the opportunity of finding a
cancer sooner by early screening; and
WHEREAS,
the data used by the USPSTF is recognized by many as being inaccurate and not
supported by statistically valid methodologies; and
WHEREAS,
evidence based randomized control trials clearly show a major benefit from
screenings and mammographies for all populations in the trials, including the
40-49 year old group;
WHEREAS,
the expanded use of screenings and mammographies for women beginning in their
40's over the past several decades has lead to a 30 percent decrease in the
annual number of deaths from breast cancer; and
WHEREAS,
delaying screenings and mammographies has the distinct potential to place
women's lives at risk by allowing breast cancers to grow and not be found until
it is too late; and
WHEREAS,
the United States Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should not change present procedures
and should not adopt these clearly dangerous and harmful guidelines that place
the health of women at risk.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the
United States Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to ignore the recent guidelines for
breast cancer screenings by the United States Preventive Services Task
Force.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to each member of the Georgia
Congressional delegation, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the
director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.