Saturday, March 01, 2008
Weekly Column By KY State Senator Ray S. Jones II
More than 22,000 Kentuckians are diagnosed with cancer each year, and nearly 10,000 Kentuckians die from the dreaded affliction. It is a terrible human toll, but one that can be reduced through early detection and treatment. The Senate passed two bills this week aimed at making sure every Kentuckian is able to get the tests and treatment they need for some of the most common and deadly forms of cancer.
Senate Bill 96 would require all health insurance plans to cover colorectal screenings for those over 50, as well as anyone at increased risk. These preventive screenings, including colonoscopies, can detect colon cancer in its early stages, saving lives and money. Kentucky men have the highest rate of colon cancer in the nation, and Kentucky women are not far behind. Once this legislation is enacted, we are hopeful our citizens will take advantage of these opportunities.
Senate Bill 98, meanwhile, would make sure that all Kentucky women have access to breast and cervical cancer treatment. The bill allows Medicaid to cover cancer therapies for uninsured Kentuckians, even those not otherwise eligible for Medicaid.
As we continue to examine ways to help Kentuckians, we approved legislation that will help improve our veterans' access to benefits. Senate Bill 142 would create a database of programs available to veterans and their families. The bill would also create a database of information on veterans themselves so that eligible veterans could be contacted about programs for them. As it stands now, the state has no way of letting our veterans know directly about the benefits for which they qualify. As much as we have tried to expand their opportunities, they do no good if our brave men and women cannot take advantage of them. SB 142 would also increase the number of veterans' benefits field representatives and regional administrators to help make people aware of what is available to them.
This week's session came to a somber close with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Prestonsburg School Bus Crash of 1958, still considered the deadliest highway accident involving children in the United State's history. Only the Carrollton school bus crash of 1988 equals the accident as the deadliest in the nation.
En route to school that cold, cloudy February morning, a school bus loaded with 48 students never arrived. The bus collided with a tow truck, swerved and hit a parked car, and then plunged into the icy water of the Big Sandy River. Twenty-six children, ranging in age from 8 to 17, and the bus driver died in what is still remembered as one of the deadliest school bus crashes in history.
The incident touched not only residents of Prestonsburg and Floyd County, but also residents across the Commonwealth. Because of this tragedy, we have enacted stiffer school bus regulations and have emergency and rescue squads across the state. After a search for children that lasted 69 days, Floyd County was prompted to establish the state's first emergency and rescue squad, which was recently honored with a national award.
Senate Bill 96 would require all health insurance plans to cover colorectal screenings for those over 50, as well as anyone at increased risk. These preventive screenings, including colonoscopies, can detect colon cancer in its early stages, saving lives and money. Kentucky men have the highest rate of colon cancer in the nation, and Kentucky women are not far behind. Once this legislation is enacted, we are hopeful our citizens will take advantage of these opportunities.
Senate Bill 98, meanwhile, would make sure that all Kentucky women have access to breast and cervical cancer treatment. The bill allows Medicaid to cover cancer therapies for uninsured Kentuckians, even those not otherwise eligible for Medicaid.
As we continue to examine ways to help Kentuckians, we approved legislation that will help improve our veterans' access to benefits. Senate Bill 142 would create a database of programs available to veterans and their families. The bill would also create a database of information on veterans themselves so that eligible veterans could be contacted about programs for them. As it stands now, the state has no way of letting our veterans know directly about the benefits for which they qualify. As much as we have tried to expand their opportunities, they do no good if our brave men and women cannot take advantage of them. SB 142 would also increase the number of veterans' benefits field representatives and regional administrators to help make people aware of what is available to them.
This week's session came to a somber close with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Prestonsburg School Bus Crash of 1958, still considered the deadliest highway accident involving children in the United State's history. Only the Carrollton school bus crash of 1988 equals the accident as the deadliest in the nation.
En route to school that cold, cloudy February morning, a school bus loaded with 48 students never arrived. The bus collided with a tow truck, swerved and hit a parked car, and then plunged into the icy water of the Big Sandy River. Twenty-six children, ranging in age from 8 to 17, and the bus driver died in what is still remembered as one of the deadliest school bus crashes in history.
The incident touched not only residents of Prestonsburg and Floyd County, but also residents across the Commonwealth. Because of this tragedy, we have enacted stiffer school bus regulations and have emergency and rescue squads across the state. After a search for children that lasted 69 days, Floyd County was prompted to establish the state's first emergency and rescue squad, which was recently honored with a national award.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 10:35 AM 
