115
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        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, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health
27   in collaboration with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged
28   to identify resources within the community to improve
29   communication, access and availability of culturally
30   appropriate services, and develop educational programs for
31   early detection of breast cancer for Native Hawaiian women;
32   and
33   
34       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health in
35   collaboration with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is urged to
36   increase breast cancer awareness, mammography screening, and
37   prevention education and treatment programs for women under

 
Page 2                                                     115
                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   fifty years of age through the Medicaid program for its
 2   membership and community at large;  and
 3   
 4       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health shall
 5   submit a report of its progress to the State Legislature no
 6   later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2001
 7   Regular Session;  and
 8   
 9       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Congressional
10   delegation be requested to fully support an amendment to the
11   Public Health Service Act allowing for Medicaid-paid health
12   care service for uninsured women diagnosed through the National
13   Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program;  and
14   
15       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
16   Resolution be transmitted to Senators Daniel K. Inouye and
17   Daniel K. Akaka, Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Patsy
18   Mink, the Director of the Department of Health, the Governor,
19   the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
20   Representatives.
21 
22 
23 
24                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________
25 
26 
27 
28                                      ____________________________
29 
30 
31 
32                                      ____________________________
33 
34 
35 
36                                      ____________________________
37 
38 
39 
40                                      ____________________________
41 
42 
43 
44                                      ____________________________
45 
46 
47 
48                                      ____________________________
49