PolitickerNJ.com
August 10, 2009
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
  
(TRENTON) – Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) and Assemblywomen Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) and Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden) joined breast cancer survivor Loretta Mikulski today to slam Conservative Right Wing Republican Chris Christie for his plans that would allow “mandate-free” policies that would eliminate mammogram coverage in health care plans across New Jersey.

Watson Coleman/Greenstein/Lampitt called this yet another attack on women’s health care by Christie who also has committed to restricting the reproductive health choices of New Jersey women.  They called Christie’s policies beyond irresponsible, sexist and a setback in the progress made in women’s health care during the last three decades.

“Christie’s plan would ultimately repeal state law that enables women under the age of 40 with a family history of breast cancer to receive mammograms paid for by their health insurers,” said Watson Coleman.  “In effect, Christie would be leaving millions of New Jersey women without any real health coverage.  He is attempting to line the pockets of New Jersey’s health care insurers at the expense of the health of millions of New Jersey women.”

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that women with a very strong family history of breast cancer start screening at the age of 25 with clinical breast exams every six months to a year.

“For women with a family history of breast cancer, routine mammograms can save their lives – that’s a fact. But Chris Christie would deny women access to this critical health care that can detect breast cancer in the early stages,” said Greenstein.  “As advances in medicine continue to provide us with a window into better treatment, we should side with patients by making these resources available rather than siding with profitable health insurance carriers.”

Christie has repeatedly said he would allow insurance companies to offer bare-bones, mandate-free policies that do not cover mammograms, which would put the health of millions of New Jersey women at risk.  He has made the issue a key component of his campaign Web site [www.christiefornj.com/on-the-issues/jobs-and-the-economy/].

 “Governor Corzine and Democrats have fought to make health care more accessible and affordable for all New Jerseyans,” said Lampitt.  “Christie would reverse decades of progress using the Bush playbook as a guide to provide less health coverage for Americans and less accountability from insurance companies.”

New Jersey has required health insurance companies to pay for doctor-recommended mammograms for women under the age of 40 since 2004.  The law was strongly supported by the American Cancer Society.
 
“A mammogram discovered my tumor when it was very small but had I waited until I could feel the lump on my own cancer would have already spread throughout my entire body,” said Loretta Mikulski, three-time breast cancer survivor.  “Early detection saved my life!  By limiting access to care like mammograms Christie would be depriving women of quality health care.  The decision to have a mammogram should be between a patient and her doctor -- not an insurance company and a politician.” 

According to FactCheck.org, professor and director of the Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University Joel Cantor said that “cutting health care coverage” would “in effect, [be a] repeal of the mandate.”

Watson Coleman/Greenstein/Lampitt said that Christie is on the wrong side of every issue that matter to New Jersey women from expanding health care to restricting a woman’s right to choice to his plans to destroy access to mammograms for women. 

“Christie’s far-right position is a frightening reminder of who he really is and how out-of-touch he is with the needs of New Jersey voters,” said Watson Coleman.  “Giving insurance companies free reign to deny essential health coverage like mammogram screenings is an attack on the health care of every woman in New Jersey.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women according to the American Cancer Society.  In May 2009, the Society estimated that in the U.S. one in eight women was diagnosed with breast cancer, with a fatality rate of one in 35.

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NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE can be reached via email at press@njdems.org.