This may not have made the headlines, but the reintroduction of the HEART For Women Act in Congress is important news to women, especially for heart disease survivors like me.
This bill will help improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of heart disease, which, according to the American Heart Association, is the No. 1 killer of women.
The HEART for Women Act aims to improve the quality of and access to care for women with cardiovascular disease. It would also ensure that any new treatments, safety and efficacy data reported to the federal government is classified by gender, race and ethnicity. Additionally, the legislation would expand eligibility for funding to all 50 states for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WISEWOMAN screening program for low-income, underinsured and uninsured women. Every state has funding for cervical and breast cancer screening and it’s long overdue to have heart disease, which kills more than 430,000 American women every year, incorporated as part of the screening process.
My heart condition is an ongoing battle and I believe the HEART for Women Act has the potential not only to make a positive impact on my quality of life and future outcome, but also save the lives of millions of women living with heart disease and improve the heart health of women who are at risk. I call on Representatives Franks, Quayle, Pastor, Schweikert and Flake to join as co-sponsors of the HEART for Women. Our hearts can’t wait.
Molly Noonan
Phoenix
