Senator Susan Collins today announced that she has co-sponsored bipartisan legislation which aims to prevent and better treat
heart attack and stroke in women. The legislation was sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Debbie Stabebow (D-MI).
The Heart Disease Education, Analysis, Research, and Treatment for Women (HEART for Women) Act takes a multi-pronged approach to improving the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease and stroke.
In order to raise awareness among women and their healthcare providers, the HEART for Women Act would authorize grants to educate health care
professionals about the unique aspects and treatment and prevalence of cardiovascular disease in women. Additionally, the legislation would authorize
funding for the Medicare program to conduct a campaign to educate older women about the risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
Furthermore, the HEART for Women Act aims to increase gender and race-specific information regarding heart disease and stroke. The legislation
would require that health care data that is already being reported to the federal government be observed by gender as well as by race and ethnicity. It
is hoped that this increased information may lead to better medication and treatment of stroke and heart disease.
Additionally, the HEART for Women Act would aim to increase screening for low-income women at risk for heart disease and stroke. The legislation would
increase to 50 states, from the current 14 states, that benefit from a Centers for Disease Control program that provides cardiovascular screening for
underinsured and uninsured women. This prevention program usually includes
testing for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. This testing is often critical in catching cardiovascular problems early.
“Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America,” noted Senator Collins “and stroke is number three. We must do all that we can to
better understand and better treat these diseases. I aim to do all that I can to help best these diseases.”
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association strongly supports this legislation.