Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. Holds a Hearing On Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations

Political Transcript Wire › December 18, 2009

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Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. Holds a Hearing On Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH HOLDS A HEARING ON BREAST CANCER SCREENING RECOMMENDATIONS

DECEMBER 2, 2009

SPEAKERS: REP. FRANK PALLONE JR., D-N.J. CHAIRMAN REP. JOHN D. DINGELL, D-MICH. REP. BART GORDON, D-TENN. REP. ANNA G. ESHOO, D-CALIF. REP. ELIOT L. ENGEL, D-N.Y. REP. GENE GREEN, D-TEXAS REP. DIANA DEGETTE, D-COLO. REP. LOIS CAPPS, D-CALIF. REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY, D-ILL. REP. TAMMY BALDWIN, D-WIS. REP. MIKE ROSS, D-ARK. REP. ANTHONY WEINER, D-N.Y. REP. JIM MATHESON, D-UTAH REP. JANE HARMAN, D-CALIF. REP. CHARLIE GONZALEZ, D-TEXAS REP. JOHN BARROW, D-GA. DEL. DONNA M.C. CHRISTENSEN, D-VIRGIN IS. REP. KATHY CASTOR, D-FLA. REP. JOHN SARBANES, D-MD. REP. CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, D-CONN. REP. ZACK SPACE, D-OHIO REP. BETTY SUTTON, D-OHIO REP. BRUCE BRALEY, D-IOWA REP. HENRY A. WAXMAN, D-CALIF. EX OFFICIO

REP. NATHAN DEAL, R-GA. RANKING MEMBER REP. RALPH M. HALL, R-TEXAS REP. EDWARD WHITFIELD, R-KY. REP. JOHN SHIMKUS, R-ILL. REP. JOHN SHADEGG, R-ARIZ. REP. ROY BLUNT, R-MO. REP. STEVE BUYER, R-IND. REP. JOE PITTS, R-PA. REP. MIKE ROGERS, R-MICH. REP. SUE MYRICK, R-N.C. REP. TIM MURPHY, R-PA. REP. MICHAEL C. BURGESS, R-TEXAS REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN, R-TENN. REP. PHIL GINGREY, R-GA. REP. JOE L. BARTON, R-TEXAS EX OFFICIO

WITNESSES: NED CALONGE, CHAIR, U.S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE

DIANA PETITTI, VICE CHAIR, U.S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE

OTIS BRAWLEY, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

JENNIFER LURAY, PRESIDENT, THE SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE ADVOCACY ALLIANCE

FRAN VISCO, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION

DONNA SWEET, MEMBER, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS' CLINICAL ASSESSMENT EFFICACY SUBCOMMITTEE

[*] PALLONE: The meeting of the subcommittee is called to order, and I'll first recognize myself. The subcommittee is meeting today to review the new breast cancer screening recommendations issued by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force just a few weeks ago.

By now, I'm sure everyone in this room is familiar with the new guidelines, or at least we're familiar with the controversies surrounding them. From what I've heard from my constituents, friends, family members, and academic institutions in my district, there are a lot of questions, frustration, and confusion around these new recommendations.

The controversy that was ignited by the report may be eclipsing what the report actually says, and this is the reason why I'm holding this hearing today. It's time for all of our questions to be answered. We want a clear understanding of what the report did and didn't say and what others have to say about the report.

We also want to understand the process used by the task force. Should they operate, for example, with more transparency?

Do they get sufficient input from stakeholder groups? Do they consider different opinions?

And I've invited the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to speak directly about their work. It's my hope that we will all walk out of this room later today with a better understanding of how these recommendations came about, how they should be viewed, and what exactly they mean.

We want to get these answers. We want to know as much as we can because women and their doctors deserve to know what is best. I also want to hear from organizations, advocacy groups, and medical experts. We don't want the task force's report to stand alone if there are different opinions.

I know that some of the frustration is due to the fact that this recommendation was seemingly made with little input from these groups. That may be a problem of process as well as a problem with the substance of the report. And they will have a platform and a voice today.

The United States is at the forefront of medical research and innovation. Investment in science has led to the development of early detection methods for certain cancers. It's led to treatments and cures for diseases once considered a death sentence. And it's important that all of this new medical information is used to empower physicians and their patients when making medical decisions. This info...

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