HEART FOR WOMEN ACT PASSED IN US HOUSE

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the HEART for Women Act by 418-4, on 25 September 2008. This historic vote is a huge win in the battle against the No. 1 killer of women, cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The bill must still be passed in the U.S. Senate, however, before becoming law.  It is expected to be re-introduced in the new Congress early next year.

American Heart Association President Timothy J. Gardner, M.D. stated “The U.S. House of Representatives’ historic passage of the HEART for Women Act is an important victory that will pave the way for significant improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the No. 1 killer of women -- heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.  Even though this is a huge step forward in the battle to save women’s lives, there’s still more work to be done to close the health disparities gap”.

Organizations including the American Heart Association, Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc., Society for Women’s Health Research and Women Heart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, united in the battle to ensure The Heart disease Education, Analysis and Research, and Treatment (HEART) for Women Act was passed. In addition it was supported by more than 50 organizations.

The HEART for Women Act will  not only help to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases by educating both women and health care providers about prevention and diagnosis and the most effective treatments for women. It will also tighten Food and Drug Administration requirements for reporting sex and race-based data about new medicines and devices and make all 50 states eligible for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WISEWOMAN screening programme for low-income, uninsured women.
 
For more information: www.heartforwomen.org