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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is a major problem among older
3 women, who deserve access to the best preventive strategies
4 available; women age 65 and older account for nearly 20 percent
5 of all new cervical cancer cases and more than 35 percent of
6 all deaths from the disease, according to the National Cancer
7 Institute; the American Cancer Society reports that 11,150
8 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,670 women
9 will die of the disease; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is caused by the human
11 papillomavirus (HPV); studies suggest that HPV testing as part
12 of screening offers women a better level of protection against
13 cervical cancer; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Cervical cancer can be a devastating disease, yet
15 it is preventable; knowing whether an older woman has HPV could
16 help determine whether and how often she should continue to be
17 screened; this can help save older women from the anguish of a
18 cervical cancer diagnosis; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The Pap test, the traditional method of screening
20 for cervical cancer, is approximately 50 to 85 percent
21 accurate, depending upon the type of test used; an HPV test was
22 approved by the FDA in 2003 for use with a Pap test in women age

 

 

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1 30 and older; research shows that this approach increases to
2 nearly 100 percent a clinician's ability to identify women who
3 are at increased risk for cervical cancer and require more
4 diligent follow-up care; and
 
5     WHEREAS, HPV testing is included in cervical cancer
6 screening guidelines from the American College of
7 Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer
8 Society; most private insurance companies and state Medicaid
9 programs already cover HPV testing as part of routine cervical
10 cancer screening for women age 30 and older; and
 
11     WHEREAS, H.R. 4055, the Medicare Cervical Cancer Screening
12 and Detection Coverage Act of 2007, has been introduced in
13 Congress; the legislation would require Medicare to cover
14 testing for HPV as part of cervical cancer screening for older
15 women; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
18 urge the United States Congress to pass H.R. 4055, the Medicare
19 Cervical Cancer Screening and Detection Coverage Act of 2007;
20 and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 forwarded to each member of the Illinois Congressional

 

 

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1 delegation.