101
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION


URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN
   AFFAIRS TO INCREASE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS, MAMMOGRAPHY
   SCREENING AND PREVENTION EDUCATION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS
   AVAILABLE TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN WOMEN.


 1       WHEREAS, Native Hawaiian women have the highest rates of
 2   new cancer cases in the United States and are diagnosed at more
 3   advanced stages than other ethnic groups;  and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, Native Hawaiian women in Hawaii have the highest
 6   mortality rates due to breast cancer compared to other ethnic
 7   groups, and the third highest mortality rates in the United
 8   States after African Americans and Alaska Natives;  and
 9   
10       WHEREAS, early detection with monthly self breast exams,
11   clinical exams, and mammography screening, with the appropriate
12   follow up can reduce deaths from breast cancer by about thirty
13   per cent for women fifty years of age and older;  and
14   
15       WHEREAS, Native Hawaiian women have lower mammography
16   screening rates than other groups, and screening and treatment
17   programs are limited, if available at all;  and
18   
19       WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii must take a proactive role to
20   insure the health and welfare of Native Hawaiian women, and in
21   so doing the welfare of their families and communities;  now,
22   therefore,
23   
24       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
25   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
26   of 2000, that the State Department of Health  in collaboration
27   with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to identify
28   resources within the community to improve communication, access
29   and availability of culturally appropriate services and develop
30   educational programs for early detection of breast cancer for
31   Native Hawaiian women;  and
32   
33       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health in
34   collaboration with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to
35   increase breast cancer awareness, mammography screening, and
36   prevention education and treatment programs for women under
37   fifty years of age through the Medicaid program for its  

 
Page 2                                                     101
                                  H.R. NO.              
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1    membership and community at large;  and
 2   
 3       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health shall
 4   submit a report of its progress to the State Legislature no
 5   later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2001
 6   Regular Session;  and
 7   
 8       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Congressional
 9   delegation be requested to fully support an amendment to the
10   Public Health Service Act allowing for Medicaid-paid health
11   care service for uninsured women diagnosed through the National
12   Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program;  and
13   
14       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
15   Resolution be transmitted to Senators Daniel K. Inouye and
16   Daniel K. Akaka, Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Patsy
17   Mink, the Director of the Department of Health, the Office of
18   Hawaiian Affairs, the Governor, and the Speaker of the House of
19   Representatives.
20 
21 
22 
23                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________
24 
25 
26 
27                                      ____________________________
28 
29 
30 
31                                      ____________________________
32 
33 
34 
35                                      ____________________________
36 
37 
38 
39                                      ____________________________
40 
41 
42 
43                                      ____________________________
44 
45 
46 
47                                      ____________________________
48