Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement about the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act (H.R. 758) following approval by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee passed the legislation, which would allow a woman and her doctor to decide whether she should recuperate from a mastectomy or lumpectomy for at least 48 hours in the hospital or whether she has enough support to get quality care at home, by voice vote.

“I am so thrilled that the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act was approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee today. The last thing any patient undergoing a mastectomy should have to deal with is fighting with her insurance company about a hospital stay. That is what this bill is all about – it says that when it comes to mastectomies and lumpectomies, adequate recovery time in the hospital should not be negotiable. And today, we are one step closer to a vote on this bill by the entire U.S. House of Representatives,” said DeLauro.

“Despite ten years of objections from the insurance industry, we are now one step closer to passing legislation to ensure that breast cancer patients receive quality care and will not be forced to leave the hospital before it is medically safe to do so,” said Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and one of the original cosponsors of H.R. 758. “I commend Rep. DeLauro on her leadership in moving this critical legislation forward and applaud her commitment to protecting the health of breast cancer patients.”

The legislation has 221 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have introduced companion legislation, which has 19 cosponsors. Additionally, a petition at myLifetime.com calling for passage of the bill has been signed over 23 million times. It is also supported by a number of high profile organizations, including BreastCancer.org, Susan G. Komen, CT Breast Cancer Coalition Foundation, American Cancer Society, Families USA, The Oncology Nursing Society, and the Breast Cancer Network of Strength (please click here to view the letters of support).

“It is not that a woman has to stay in the hospital after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. I would hope that every woman who has to undergo this surgery has an easy time of it and experiences no complications. But for those who experience complications or lack the support system at home, this bill ensures that she can remain in the hospital for 48 hours. This is neither a floor nor a ceiling – it simply ensures that any decision in favor of a shorter or longer hospital stay will be made by the patient and her doctor, and not an insurance company. It would also ensure women have access to second opinions and adequate hospital stays after having a lumpectomy.

“For those who have worked with me on this bill, Dr. Kristen Zarfos, Lifetime Television, you have helped me move this legislation forward. I thank the Committee – Chairman John Dingell, Chairman Frank Pallone and Ranking Member Joe Barton – for their support of this bill and their wonderful staff – Bridgett Taylor and Robert Clark – for their help in ushering the bill through.”