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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear Signs Colon Cancer Prevention Bill
Measure will Pave the Way for Fund Raising, Broader Awareness and Screening Efforts
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Governor Steve Beshear held a ceremonial signing of House Bill 72 today, a measure adding to a 2008 statute that established the colon cancer screening and referral program for uninsured individuals.
“Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer-related death in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be,” said Gov. Beshear. “If everybody age 50 or older had regular screening tests, at least one-third of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.”
Sponsored by Rep. Tom Burch, the legislation permits the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) to establish an income-based fee scale for colon cancer screenings if state funding becomes available. The legislation also establishes the Colon Cancer Screening Program Fund that may accept state general fund appropriations, as well as funds from any state, federal or private source.
“In Kentucky, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death,” said Rep. Burch. “The fact we passed the bill is milestone toward alleviating this health crisis.”
Under the new law, people age 50 to 64 who are uninsured, and others who are uninsured who may have a high risk for colon cancer, are the target populations for screening. Both men and women are at risk of developing colorectal cancer. Screenings are encouraged because they can detect problems, such as polyps, which often develop into cancer and can be removed when detected early.
“With this legislation, we hope to raise money to help us in our work to reduce the rate of colon cancer in Kentucky,” said DPH Commissioner William Hacker, M.D. “This is a very serious disease that affects far too many Kentuckians.”
The bill is named in honor of Richard “Butch” Stewart, a long-time employee of the Kentucky General Assembly who died last year from colon cancer.
The Colon Cancer Screening Program was established in the 2008 General Assembly to increase colon cancer screening; provide public information and awareness activities; reduce morbidity and mortality from colon cancer; and reduce the cost of treating colon cancer.
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