Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working to ensure more Georgians get screened for cervical cancer.
Last week, Sen. Ossoff joined a bipartisan inquiry with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the Biden Administration to maintain current cervical cancer screening recommendations and increase awareness of the need to get screened.
Data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has shown that cervical cancer rates in women under the age of 50 have been increasing in recent years, in particular for rural and underserved communities.
From 2016-2020, Georgia had a cervical cancer incidence rate of 8.0%, and a cervical cancer mortality rate of 2.3%. These rates are slightly higher than the national rates of 7.7% and 2.2%, respectively.
“In recognition of the importance of Cervical Health Awareness month, we write to bring to your attention troubling trends regarding cervical cancer and to seek your support in renewed efforts to increase cervical cancer screening rates while maintaining existing recommendations to ensure access to care,” Sen. Ossoff and the group wrote.
Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is reviewing cervical cancer screening, and proposed guidelines are expected in 2024. The group of Senators are urging the Biden Administration against changes to guidelines that could reduce the recommended intervals between screenings.
The letter was led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) and co-signed by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chris Coons (D-DE).
Sen. Ossoff continues working to increase Georgians’ access to lifesaving health coverage.
In December, Sen. Ossoff led a bipartisan, bicameral group of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation requesting an update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the shortage of drugs needed to treat cancer patients.
In November, the U.S. Senate passed Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan amendment to expand access to breast cancer screenings for Georgia veterans.
In September, Emory University in Atlanta was the first recipient of funding through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a new research agency funded through the bipartisan FY22 appropriations bill that Sen. Ossoff helped pass into law.
Click here to read the bipartisan letter.
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