The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) passed in the Senate on Thursday with a vote of 95 – 0. Senator Coburn (R-OK), who had put a hold on the legislation, came to an agreement with his colleagues paving the way for the bill. GINA has had large support in the past, but has never managed to pass both houses in the same session.

The bill makes it illegal for health insurers to deny coverage or charge a higher rate or premium to an otherwise healthy individual found to have a potential genetic condition or genetic predisposition towards a disease or disorder. GINA also makes it illegal for employers to use an employee’s genetic information when making hiring, firing, placement, or promotion decisions.

GINA now now goes to the House, which passed it by a wide margin last year and is expected to do so again.

President Bush has indicated that he will sign the bill.

To read The Hill Article click here

It looks like the hold placed on The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) will be lifted and the Senate will vote on the legislation either tonight or tomorrow.

The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) makes it illegal for health insurers to deny coverage or charge a higher rate or premium to an otherwise healthy individual found to have a potential genetic condition or genetic predisposition towards a disease or disorder. GINA also makes it illegal for employers to use an employee’s genetic information when making hiring, firing, placement, or promotion decisions.

Please click here to see if your Senators support the legislation.

If not…Get on the phone and urge them to vote in favor of the bill.

Click here to find your Senator’s office number..

The mission of the Kentucky Colon Cancer Prevention Project (C2P2) is “to eliminate preventable colon cancer death and suffering by increasing screening rates.” On Wednesday, April 2 C2P2 came closer to achieving this when the Kentucky Senate passed the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Act (HB 415) with a 38 to 0 vote. The House passed the bill February 26 with a 94 to 0 vote.

The Act will establish a colon cancer screening program within the Kentucky Department of Public Health to provide screening services to uninsured individuals age 50 to 64 and others at high risk. A sample letter C2P2 encouraged constituents to send to their legislators said HB 415 will:

“…ensure that all Kentuckians will be educated as to the need for this cancer screening. It will assist and navigate the uninsured to seek the screening necessary to save lives.”

The letter went on to make the economic point that the very expensive cost for late stage colon and rectal cancer treatment can be greatly reduced with adequate screening. To support this C2P2 listed the following points made by Dr. Tom Tucker on November 19 in testimony presented to the Interim Joint Health & Welfare Committee:

• Approximately half (1378) of all colon cancer cases are diagnosed with late stage disease each year in Kentucky.
• It costs an average of $30,000 to treat each case of early stage colon cancer and an average of $120,000 to treat each case of late stage colon cancer. This is $90,000 more in direct treatment costs for each case of late stage colon cancer.
• If just 200 more new cases of colon cancer were diagnosed at an early stage rather than a late stage each year for the next five years, there will be a savings of $90 million in direct treatment costs.

Angela Champion, C2P2 Executive Director said, “Our efforts will continue to make sure that this legislation will result in a funded statewide screening and education program.”

C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition gives a pat on the back to all the people who made this possible and urges constituents to contact their Kentucky Legislators and thank them for passing this bill.

Go here to read more about HR 415 and to see how your Kentucky Legislators voted.

Go here to read an op-ed piece authored by Alan Stein in favor of HB 415 published in the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald-Leader.

Go here to learn more about the Kentucky Colon Cancer Prevention Project.

Marilia Sardinha, C3 Advocate and Steering Committee Member played a vital role in the passing of LD 2109, An Act Relating to Insurance Coverage for Colorectal Cancer Early Detection.

“It was an honor to be a part of it and to know how it will help so many people”, said Marilia. Earlier in the year Marilia was asked by the local chapter of the America Cancer Society to testify during a hearing on the bill.

The Governor of Maine, John E. Baldacci, signed the bill into law on March 26th. The bill requires health insurance policies issued or renewed after Jan. 1, 2009, to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings. “We know that the five-year survival rate for those who detected their colon cancer early is 90 percent, but only 39 percent of colon cancers are diagnosed at this stage,” Governor Baldacci said. “That’s why this bill is so important.”

C3 would like to thank Marilia along with the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Edward Mazurek (D-Rockland), for all of their hard work.

Click here to read LD 2109

Image of Marilia with Maine Governor John E. Baldacci used with permission.

Representative Albert Wynn (D-MD) along with his colleague Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives March 31st, regarding the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Resolution (H. Con. Res. 302).

Representative Wynn, one of the lead sponsors of the Colorectal Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment Act (HR 1738), recognized C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition for all of our hard work in bringing awareness here in DC, and all over the country, to the need for change in current colorectal cancer policy (or lack there of).

“This tragedy disproportionately affects minorities, particularly African Americans, who are less likely to have health insurance or see a doctor on a regular basis”, said Wynn. “As a result, African Americans are diagnosed later and are 40% more likely to die from the disease.”

Along with Representative Wynn, Kay Granger (R-TX) has taken a strong position on colorectal cancer. Ms. Granger, who was unable to attend the floor debate, had this to say; “I hope that passage of this resolution will help increase awareness of the importance of early detection and screening in combating colorectal cancer. Screenings are easy to do and could save hundreds of thousands of lives if people took advantage of them.” Granger who is the Republican lead on HR 1738 added, “When there is an opportunity to address problems with common sense solutions, we should. And that is what I will continue to do,”

C3 would like thank Representatives Wynn, Granger and Kennedy for all of their hard work on this issue.