Res. No. 868
Resolution calling upon the New York State Assembly to pass A1899 and the New York State Senate to pass S1551, legislation that would require health insurance companies doing business in the State of New York to cover the cost of colorectal screening procedures for those over 50 years of age and for those under 50 years of age who are considered at high risk for the disease.
By Council Members Oddo, Gallagher, Lanza, Foster, Gennaro, Gentile, Lopez, Nelson, Quinn, Provenzano, Addabbo Jr., Avella, Brewer, Fidler, James, Katz, McMahon, Perkins, Recchia Jr. Seabrook, Sears, Stewart, Weprin, Reed and Koppell
Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States; and
Whereas, According to the American Cancer Society, each year, nearly 150,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with colorectal cancer; and
Whereas, The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 60,000 people in the United States die from colorectal cancer annually; and
Whereas, The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA) estimates that the total number of lives lost annually is more than the number of lives lost from breast cancer and AIDS combined; and
Whereas, According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), approximately 1,500 New Yorkers die from colorectal cancer annually, despite the fact that this disease is, according to the NCCRA, curable 90% of the time if detected early; and
Whereas, Screening methods able to detect colorectal cancer in its early stages include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), double contrast barium enema, and computer tomographic colonoscopy (virtual colonoscopy); and
Whereas, DOHMH estimates that 250,000 New Yorkers age 50 and over have undetected colon polyps, which can develop into colorectal cancer; and
Whereas, DOHMH recommends those who are 50 years of age and older undergo periodic colorectal cancer screening; and
Whereas, People should be encouraged to get screened for this disease, and that they should not be discouraged from utilizing life-saving screening procedures because of the high costs that are involved; and
Whereas, Health insurance companies that do business in the State of New York should be required to cover the costs of such necessary and life-saving screening procedures; and
Whereas, A1899 and S1551 have been introduced in the New York State Legislature, which would require insurance companies to cover the costs of these life-saving screening procedures; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Assembly to pass A1899 and the New York State Senate to pass S1551, legislation that would require health insurance companies doing business in the State of New York to cover the cost of colorectal screening procedures for those over 50 years of age and for those under 50 years of age who are considered at high risk for the disease.
DP
LS#1751
2/9/05