Pallone Condemns California for Withdrawing Mammograms

December 8, 2009

Says task force opinion shouldn′t be used as an excuse
           
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. issued the following statement on Tuesday after he learned that the California Health And Human Services Agency withdrew subsidies for mammograms for women between the ages of 40 and 50. Pallone, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, called a hearing in December after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued an opinion saying that women between age 40 and age 50 should not automatically get mammograms without giving consideration to potential health effects:

"This is what I feared most and warned against. The opinion of the task force should not be used as an excuse by insurance companies or others to deny mammogram coverage for women who would benefit from them. In fact, the recommendations clearly stated that the decision to have a mammography should be made by the patient and her doctor. That should continue to be the case."