WASHINGTON, DC - More States Have Insurance Laws for Cancers With Lower Death Rates

A new report released today shows nearly two-thirds of states in the U.S. have failed to pass legislation that requires insurance providers to cover the cost of preventive screening for colorectal cancer, despite the fact that it is a highly preventable disease and accounts for $6.5 billion in treatment costs every year.1

The 2005 Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card found only 17 states and the District of Columbia have passed insurance legislation for colorectal cancer screening - far more states have laws that guarantee coverage of preventive tests for cancers with lower death rates. The Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA) and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) developed the Report Card in cooperation with the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, Colon Cancer Alliance, Hadassah and STOP Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation. To view the full report, visit www.eif.nccra.org.

Guaranteed insurance coverage laws exist in 47 states* for breast cancer, 26 states* for prostate cancer, and 23 states* for cervical cancer, despite the fact that each type of cancer claims fewer lives annually than colorectal cancer. Ninety percent of colorectal cancers can be successfully treated with early detection. However, the disease remains the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., due in part to screening barriers such as insurance coverage.

"Unfortunately, many people fail to get tested because they are uncertain of whether or not their insurance covers the cost of preventive colorectal cancer screenings," says Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. "By teaming up with leading medical societies and patient advocacy groups, EIF's NCCRA wants Americans to make their voices count and call for public policy change."

For the 33 states that received failing grades (D-F) in the report, consumers are urged to go to the Report Card Web site during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March to contact their state legislators and petition for quality legislation. The coalition aims to create a groundswell of support for state legislation that will ensure lives are saved through early detection.

"We believe that colorectal cancer screening merits a higher priority on our nation's public health agenda," says Bernard Levin, M.D., a member of the AGA Report Card Taskforce and Chair of the AGA Public Affairs and Advocacy Committee. "If we can persuade more states to pass preventive screening legislation, therein lies the potential to save thousands of lives and billions of dollars spent annually to treat advanced colorectal cancer."

About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. The disease generally develops in the colon over five to 10 years as growths, or polyps, become cancerous. Colonoscopy, currently the most effective method for colorectal cancer screening, allows doctors to detect and remove potentially cancerous polyps.

American Gastroenterological Association
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is dedicated to the mission of advancing the science and practice of gastroenterology. Founded in 1897, the AGA is the oldest medical-specialty society in the United States. The AGA's 14,000 members include physicians and scientists who research, diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. On a monthly basis, the AGA publishes two highly respected journals, Gastroenterology and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The AGA's annual meeting is Digestive Disease Week , which is held each May and is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
The NCCRA is dedicated to the eradication of colon cancer by promoting education about the importance of early medical screening and funding cutting-edge research to develop better tests, treatments and ultimately, a cure. The NCCRA was co-founded in March of 2000 by journalist Katie Couric, cancer activist Lilly Tartikoff, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation. As a result of the attention NCCRA and NBC's TODAY Show have focused on colorectal cancer, the number of colonoscopy screenings has increased almost 20 percent since March 2000. Researchers at the University of Michigan have referred to this as the "Couric Effect."

Entertainment Industry Foundation
As the philanthropic leader of the entertainment industry, the Entertainment Industry Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars - and provided countless volunteer hours - to support charitable initiatives addressing some of the most critical issues facing society today.

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Contacts:

Judi Ketcik
Entertainment Industry Foundation
(818) 760-7722
jketcik@eifoundation.org

Kimberly Wise
AGA
(301) 941-2620
kwise@gastro.org