Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) this week introduced the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, which would guarantee a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours for a woman having a mastectomy or lumpectomy. DeLauro introduced the bill, which currently has 38 original cosponsors, during National Women's Health Week.
"Mastectomies are a major operation that can result in serious complications. After going through such a physically and emotionally traumatic experience, women should have the ability to continue to stay in the hospital and receive the care they need," said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. "Congress should pass the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act and give patients 48 hours to recover--anything less should be determined by a patient and her doctor."
Every year, more than 75,000 women undergo mastectomies as a way of treating breast cancer. While these surgeries are extensive, many insurance companies do not cover overnight hospital care, which often forces women to go home hours after their surgeries. When women are forced by their insurance companies to leave the hospital before they are ready--sometimes just hours after surgery--it can lead to serious complications.
The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act would help ensure that patients have adequate support after breast cancer surgery by:
Guaranteeing a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours for a woman having a mastectomy or lumpectomy, and 24 hours for a woman undergoing a lymph node removal;
Requiring health plans to include notice of these benefits in their monthly mailing and yearly information packet sent to plan participants;
Requiring plans to cover a second opinion should the patient seek one; and
Specifying that before a nonrenewal, discontinuation of coverage, or rescission of coverage in the individual insurance market can take effect, the insurer shall provide the individual with an opportunity for independent, external third party review.
DeLauro has introduced the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act several times and in the 110th Congress, it was passed by a vote of 421-2. She is the Ranking Member on the subcommittee responsible for funding the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.