Description
“Coverage of mammograms for breast cancer screening is mandated by the Affordable Care Act, which provides that these be given without a co-pay or deductible beginning with plan years starting after August 1, 2012. This doesn’t apply to health plans that were in place before it was passed (called grandfathered plans). Those plans are covered by state laws, which vary, and other federal laws” (American Cancer Society, 2013). Imagine that you are a member of Congress voting on a bill to amend the Affordable Care Act to mandate “grandfathered” and “individual” (self –paid) insurance plans to provide full coverage for bi-annual mammography screening for all females of 35 years and older and all females of 20 years and older who have documented breast cancer in an immediate family member. The legislation would nullify the individual state laws that have varied mandates and coverage, and grant all women access to free screening. Insurance companies have lobbied you to vote against the amendment, and cancer awareness organizations (i.e. ACS, Komen) have lobbied you to vote for it. The insurance companies highlight the costs of screening. While the advocates for the amendment use data to support the cost to benefit analysis. As a member of Congress, you decide to carry out your own research on the benefits of screening (read the module texts) and using varied sources of data to inform your decision. After extensive research, you are now ready to cast your vote and prepare a statement for your constituency. Preparation: STEP 1 Review the course texts and navigate the various data/statistics available through the NCI, Komen Foundation, and other valid sources. Select two (2) data visualizations.