2010 Colorado Legislative Session in Review
On May 12th, the Colorado legislature adjourned for 2010. It covered over 640 bills in the mandated 120 days. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) fought for the passage of two bills that will help reduce the 6,700 yearly cancer deaths in Colorado.
From January to May, ACS CAN members and advocates sent hundreds of emails, made phone calls and made visits to the capitol to lobby legislators to change laws.
ACS CAN Saves Lives, Changes Lives and Changes Laws.
Mammography Bill – HB 1252 – Amendment Added and Passed
Current law in Colorado only requires that insurance companies cover mammography screenings for women 50 and older every other year. As part of the Governor’s healthcare agenda this year, HB 1252 sought to extend mammography coverage to women at risk, beyond current law.
ACS CAN however needed to strengthen the bill. The scientific evidence shows that early detection saves lives and women in their forties should be covered for mammography annually. ACS CAN fought long and hard to ensure that the bill would require screening for both high risk women as well as all women over 40 years of age and older.
Despite initial opposition and long odds, the legislature finally accepted the amendment making it possible for women in their forties, or those at risk to be covered for annual mammography screenings. The bill takes effect for insurance policies and contracts entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2011.
The enactment of this bill means more women will detect breast cancer early. We will reduce the number of late diagnoses each year and will better protect women in Colorado.
Affordable Oral Chemotherapy – HB 1202 - Passed
Every year cancer patients are forced into bankruptcy because of the high cost of cancer treatment.
Oral chemotherapy is often more expensive than intravenous chemotherapy and in some instances it is the only form of treatment. The high cost however, makes it the more prohibitive option for cancer patients.
As ACS CAN members and advocates took action, the legislature passed HB 1202 which will make oral chemotherapy as affordable as intravenous chemotherapy.
With the enactment of this bill, cancer patients will face a lessened financial burden.
Tobacco Tax
Last year and this year, ACS CAN fought to protect millions of dollars for cancer programs. After experiencing significant cuts from FY 09-10, the cancer related programs funded through amendment 35 tobacco tax revenue took another hit this year with a $25.6 million dollar reduction. Cancer related programs impacted by this cut include the Colorado Colorectal Screening as well as the comprehensive state tobacco control program, including the Colorado Quitline.
The revenue taken from these programs will be put towards the state Medicaid budget which is in dire need of additional funds as a result of the 40% caseload increase since 2007. The exact dollar amount reductions taken from specific cancer related programs has yet to be determined. This decision making process will be carried out by independent review committees that will decide how to distribute the remaining dollars to programs like the Colorectal Screening program, the Quitline, and local tobacco control efforts.
The Year in Review
Cancer patients, caretakers and advocates can feel a sense of accomplishment as ACS CAN successfully fought for earlier breast cancer detection and to make oral chemotherapy more affordable.
Combined with our work in 2009, when we fought for a percentage of proceeds from the “Committed to a Cure” license plates to fight breast cancer, the last two years have been truly successful in the fight against cancer.
Join our fight and become a member today. Add your voice to the thousands of cancer patients and advocates across the nation. You will also receive emails and have the opportunity to fight for laws that reduce cancer.
ACS CAN Saves Lives, Changes Lives, and Changes Laws.
