Weekly Script October 22nd, 2023 WEEKLY SC℞IPT Friends, Thank you for taking time to read my weekly update. Below you'll learn more about what I'm doing in Washington to support Iowans in the first district. Visit My Website It’s Time to Treat and Beat Breast Cancer Over 4 million women in the United States have a history of breast cancer and in 2023, an estimated 297,790 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, a cancer that could require surgical breast removal. Yet, despite the staggering number of women impacted by this disease, we still do not have legislation in place that adequately supports these women and their families. Currently, if a breast cancer survivor undergoes a mastectomy, a procedure to remove all breast tissue, they are given two options after the procedure either: a basic off-the-shelf breast prostheses insert or complete reconstruction. These choices are built into insurance coverage with little wiggle room and higher quality custom inserts are simply not covered for breast cancer patients and survivors under Medicare. When women are dealing with the stress and toll of invasive breast cancer, line items of their insurance coverage are the furthest things from their minds. Therefore, after examining these gaps in quality coverage, I introduced the Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act, with Representative Judy Chu. This legislation requires Medicare to cover a third option of breast reconstruction surgery: custom inserts. Custom inserts are meant for women who want breast prosthetics that are the appropriate size and skin color but choose not to undergo a complete reconstructive surgery. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act takes away the burden of calculating the coverage for custom prosthetics and gives access to higher quality inserts for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer that undergo a mastectomy, regardless of their income. In addition to quality inserts, there is also a gap in coverage for preventative testing available to Medicare patients. To combat this discrepancy, I introduced the Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act with Rep. Wasserman Schultz to increase coverage for critical testing. This legislation expands access to lifesaving genetic testing to determine an individual’s risk of developing hereditary cancer. Under the current law, Medicare only covers genetic testing for people that are already diagnosed with cancer. This severely limits any coverage for preventative screening and testing. As a doctor, I know that one of the best ways to treat and beat cancer is early detection. Our Reducing Hereditary Cancer Act would allow Medicare to cover genetic testing, cancer screenings and risk-reducing surgeries. I will continue to introduce legislation to ensure that treatments and products are accessible to give patients access to the care they need to live better lives. Iowans in DC It is always great to meet with Iowans while they are in Washington! It truly is my favorite part of serving in Congress. Speaking to residents of the First District allows me to stay informed of what is going on in their communities and what I can do to help. As we work to elect a Speaker, we are continuing to meet with constituents. I appreciated receiving information on workforce and mental health from representatives from the American Psychiatric Association. I met with representatives from the Pellet Fuels Institute to discuss Farm Bill programs related to biomass energy, as well as their member production facilities located in my district. Thank you for visiting. I had the pleasure of meeting with Daniel J. Seehafer, the National Commander of the American Legion. Thank you for visiting with me. I had the opportunity to join the Kraft Heinz Company Foundation for their Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event. I’m proud to support their efforts to combat hunger! I was honored to receive an award from Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman noting the partnership between Iowa's first district and Canada. Committee Hearings This week, I participated in the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic’s "Strengthening Biosafety and Biosecurity Standards: Protecting Against Future Pandemics" hearing. The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing titled: "What’s the Prognosis?: Examining Medicare Proposals to Improve Patient Access to Care & Minimize Red Tape for Doctors". I questioned witnesses during this week's Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment hearing titled: "Exposing EPA Efforts to Limit Chemicals Needed for Life-Saving Medical Devices and Other Essential Products". Sincerely, Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks Be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more updates. ### Rep. Miller-Meeks | 1034 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]