Tue Feb 24 2009

Improving breast cancer Medicaid coverage

State Representative Greg Harris (13th- D) is pushing for Gov. Pat Quinn to approve a bill that could be one step in repairing Illinois' shattered healthcare system.

Alex Parker at the Chi-Town Daily News writes that Harris is hoping Quinn passes legislation this week that decreases health disparities among women regarding breast cancer. The legislation (SB1174) increases Medicaid coverage for breast cancer screenings and treatment, including mammograms, ultrasound screenings and inpatient hospital services. Harris hopes the legislation increases affordable access to breast cancer treatments while also educating the public.

The legislation cites an interesting October 2007 report from the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force, which found that black women receive fewer mammograms; and if they do receive mammograms, they receive "mammograms of inferior quality" and "have inadequate access to quality treatment once a cancer is diagnosed."

According to the report, breast cancer mortality rates for black and white women were the same in 1980; but by 2003, the mortality rate for black women was 68 percent higher than the rate for white women.

How did this happen?

The report has one theory:

It is important to note that the disparities seen in Chicago are not the result of biological differences in breast cancer between Black and White women, although recent studies have noted that there is biological variability in the presentation of breast cancer. The comparisons with New York City and the entire U.S. make it clear that biology cannot be blamed for the disparity in mortality rates in Chicago. We suggest the answer lies in the system - a system of care in Metropolitan Chicago that has failed in the most basic of ways to preserve the health of Black women. The system must be repaired, and this may best be accomplished by focusing on the recommendations in this Report offered by the Task Force.

— Sheila Burt / Comments (0)