Federal Women’s Health Study

In response to Column One, “Women’s New Push for Health” (April 30):

The Times point that “most insurers have a policy of not covering new treatments” is right on target. To address that point, I have introduced a measure in the Assembly that would force the state to evaluate such “experimental” procedures or therapies.

When health insurance coverage is purchased, procedures covered are vague. It is not until a specific illness occurs, whether it be life-threatening or not, that questions will arise as to exactly what is or is not covered.

AB 853 would establish a committee whose sole responsibility would be to determine which procedures are no longer termed “experimental.” Procedures that have been utilized for years and have shown to produce positive, life-extending results should come off the “experimental” list and be placed on a list of accepted medical practices.

The women in the article all required various treatments for breast cancer. Unfortunately, they fall into the situation that I am trying to rectify. They all became victims of a health insurance system that fails to adequately insure its policyholders. They all had become victims of not only a disease, but of a system they thought was there to protect them in their time of need.

BOB EPPLE, Assembly, D-Norwalk