10-R141
2010 -- H 7914
Enacted 03/23/10
H O U S E R E S
O L U T I O N
SUPPORTING
PASSAGE OF THE BREAST CANCER PATIENT PROTECTION ACT CURRENTLY BEFORE THE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
Introduced
By: Representatives Kilmartin, Slater, Naughton,
Date Introduced: March 16, 2010
WHEREAS, A mastectomy is
the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or
completely. It is generally used to treat or to prevent cancer;
and
WHEREAS, The surgery can include removal of the breast tissue, the
aureole and nipple,
the axillary lymph nodes, the
lining over the chest muscles, and part of the pectoralis
major and
minor muscles behind the breast; and
WHEREAS, Surgery
is performed under general anesthesia and often takes two to three
hours, longer if reconstructive surgery is done at the same
time; and
WHEREAS, After surgery, patients must not only deal with the
psychological aspects of
loss, disfigurement, and trauma from the surgery, as well
as the fears associated with cancer, but
they must also be prepared to handle a host of physical
aspects; and
WHEREAS, Patients
must deal with how and when to take the proper medication; they
must care for the bandage and dressing over the incision;
they must learn how to drain the tube
inserted during surgery, usually every eight hours, and
measure and record the drainage; they
must deal with the stitches and staples; they must learn
to recognize the signs of wound infection
and lymphedema; and they must
learn the proper exercise routine to promote full recovery and
movement, and prevent the formation of significant scar
tissue; and
WHEREAS, Insurance
companies believe that patients can safely and routinely
accomplish all these feats in less than one day and on an
outpatient basis, and they are only
providing limited financial coverage based on this belief; and
WHEREAS, The Breast
Cancer Patient Protection Act, introduced before the United
States Congress, requires insurance companies to
mandate financial coverage for a minimum 48-
hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy; and
WHEREAS,
Breast cancer crosses all racial, age, gender, and economic lines. It is
a
serious and potentially lethal diagnosis, and its proper
treatment is not only medically essential,
but is humanely and morally fundamental; now, therefore
be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of
Providence Plantations
hereby expresses full support for enactment of the Breast Cancer Patient
Protection Act currently
before the Congress of the
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to each
member of
Delegation.
=======
LC02230
=======