By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) gathered with Illinois Senate and House colleagues, medical professionals and community advocates at the James M. Thompson Center Feb. 29 to address the rising disparities in breast cancer treatments for African-American women.

Harris has introduced new legislation, House Bill 5192, which would work to ensure more uniform breast cancer care for all women across Illinois. Both uninsured and underinsured women would have access to appropriate screenings and treatment under the legislation.

According to Harris, the bill enacts recommendations from the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force and follows a 2007 study from the Sinai Urban Health Institute suggesting an increasing disparity in mortality rates between Caucasian and African American breast cancer patients in Illinois. As of 2003, an African American woman with breast cancer in the state had a 68 percent higher chance of dying from the disease.

A study by the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that the Illinois numbers follow a rising national trend, but they are about twice the national average. In New York City, for example, the disparity is about 11 percent. Nationally, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in African American women.

“Frankly, in my opinion, the disparity probably extends to Hispanic women, immigrant and refugee women and all those women who count on Medicaid for their health care,” Harris said.

The numbers pointed to “an absolutely appalling and embarrassing disparity in care,” said Dr. Elizabeth Marcus, chair of Breast Oncology at Stroger Hospital.

“There were segments of the population that were not benefiting from advancements in breast cancer treatment,” Marcus said.

Marcus said the disparity could likely be rectified by improving differences in proximity to treatment centers and quality of screenings and treatments.

HB 5192 increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for mammography and screenings; creates a Medicaid bonus payment system giving providers incentive to use the best possible practices; requires insurers to cover pain medication for women undergoing treatment; eliminates patient co-pays and deductibles for breast cancer treatment and screenings; implements a patient reminder system for check-ups; and creates a pilot program of patient navigators to assist women in coordinating and managing their care.

Angela Walker, a breast cancer survivor, said the legislation will make treatment easier and more accessible for area women, especially since it calls for patient navigators who will direct them through the morass of decision-making that so often accompanies health issues.

Had legislation such as this been in place previously, Walker said, “My journey would have been a lot smoother.”