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Date: May 1, 1995
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact:  HCFA Press Office (202) 690-6145

The initial phase of the campaign will include a TV public service announcement featuring President Clinton, who lost his mother Virginia Kelly to breast cancer, and a second announcement featuring the First Lady. The campaign opens this month with an appeal for "Mama"grams -- messages for Mother's Day encouraging women to get mammography screening.

"The 46,000 breast cancer deaths in 1994 become even more tragic when we realize that some 30 percent of them could have been prevented by early detection and treatment of the disease," Secretary Shalala said. "Modern medical treatment of breast cancer has a high rate of success when the condition is found in its early stages. A mammogram can save your life."

In particular, the campaign is meant to promote use of Medicare coverage for mammography. Currently, only about 37 percent of women covered by Medicare are taking advantage of the benefit.

"Medicare now helps cover the cost of mammogram screening. A major goal of this campaign is to ensure that every woman who is covered by Medicare knows about this benefit and how to use it," Secretary Shalala said.

In the President's public service announcement, which includes Clinton family photos, he discusses his mother's battle with breast cancer. In the First Lady's spot, Ms. Clinton highlights success stories, including survivors of breast cancer. The "Mama"gram phase of the campaign will include pre-printed messages for greeting cards and special cards to be included in flowers delivered for Mother's Day.

The year-long campaign will continue to focus on increasing awareness about mammography for older women. These efforts will center on scheduled senior events, including the senior Olympics later this month.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately one of every eight American women will be afflicted with breast cancer during their lifetimes, and the risk increases with age. In 1994, approximately half of all new cases of breast cancer were in women age 65 and over. More than half of the deaths from breast cancer in that year were among women 65 and over.

"All Americans should be concerned that older women in their families receive periodic screenings for breast cancer," Secretary Shalala said. "We're encouraging physicians and other health care professionals to put forth special efforts to encourage the use of mammography screenings."

Bruce C. Vladeck, administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, emphasized that the Medicare program for the elderly and disabled has helped to pay for mammography screenings since Jan. 1, 1991. Previously, Medicare covered mammography only when used to diagnose breast disease.

Vladeck said that publicity about the Medicare mammography benefit is also a high-priority project of the HCFA's Consumer Information Strategy.

"We must do much more than just pay for the care of sick and injured people," said Vladeck. "We believe we should be providing our beneficiaries with information that will help them make sound decisions on health care and how to lead healthier lives.

Medicare coverage of screening mammography was authorized by Congress in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. Congress in 1989 authorized Medicare coverage of screening Pap smear tests for early detection of cervical cancer. Medicare also covers immunizations for older Americans, including pneumococcal pneumonia, hepatitis-B and flu.

The coverage of these preventive health care services represented an historic change in the Medicare program, which previously had covered only services necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury.

In the 1995 fiscal year, approximately five million Medicare beneficiaries will receive mammography screenings at a cost to the program of $260 million.

Medicare helps pay for mammography screenings every two years for women age 65 and over. The required intervals between screenings vary for disabled Medicare beneficiaries younger than 65.