Moran Supports Coverage for Maximum Hospital Stay

Press Release

Moran Supports Coverage For Maximum Hospital Stay

Legislation Eliminates "Drive Through Mastectomies" for Patients

Congressman Jerry Moran, lead Republican sponsor of HR 758, voted in favor of the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007. The legislation authorizes that hospital coverage will be provided by insurance providers for patients to ensure a full recovery following a surgery.

"I understand how important it is to have adequate care following an intensive surgery," Moran said. "This legislation will ensure that patients are covered by their insurance providers to avoid early discharge from hospitals in order to properly recover. I supported this legislation last Congressional session and was glad to see it successfully pass in the House."

"This is a fabulous step forward in protecting women who go through the traumatic experience of surgery. The patients are dealing with the emotional trauma of the surgery and should not have to worry about keeping themselves healthy. This is one corner that cannot be cut," said Tonia Carlson of Paxico, the District 1 ACT Lead for the American Cancer Society.

This bill was drafted in a response to certain Health Maintenance Organization's (HMO) practice of encouraging the early discharge of patients who are recovering from mastectomy or breast surgery. The legislation requires that a health insurance provider will provide medical and surgical benefits to ensure that coverage and radiation therapy are provided for breast cancer treatment.

It has been reported that doctors have been required to discharge patients within a few hours of their surgery -the so called "drive through mastectomy." Under H.R. 758, health insurance providers can not restrict health care benefits for a patient to stay in the hospital 48 hours following a mastectomy. The legislation will also apply to health care providers that offer insurance within the individual market.

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