Blackburn Continues Fight to Ensure Women's Access to Cancer Screenings

Statement

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) released the following statement in response to today's recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that would raise the recommended age for the start of routine mammograms from 40 to 50.

"Today, the US Prevention Services Task Force (USPSTF) turned its back on healthcare for women when they finalized breast screening guidelines that would limit access to mammograms for 22 million women between the ages of 40 and 49. The guidelines would have blocked access to care to women who may be at greatest risk of breast cancer and who are not aware that they are at risk. As our nation moves to precision medical care, the denial of life-saving screening is exactly the wrong direction. Fortunately, in December, Congress enacted a provision based on a bipartisan bill, H.R. 3339, that I sponsored with Representatives Ellmers (R-NC) and Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), that places a two-year hold on these finalized recommendations. Congress acted preemptively to ensure women access to life-saving technology.

"The USPSTF is an advisory group and does not include clinicians with expertise in the care of patients with breast cancer. The USPSTF's decision to go ahead and finalize these guidelines clearly shows the problem with a government-run healthcare system, and an unelected government board that believes it is accountable to no one. The release of these recommendations will only prove to confuse women about a critical health care decision.

"Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) and I introduced bipartisan legislation last year, H.R. 1151, the USPSTF Transparency and Accountability Act, to bring better transparency, greater accountability, and improved clinical representation to the USPSTF on all its guidelines. It is clearly time to address this broader issue of an agency run amok," Blackburn said.

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