| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 112 2999 |
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| 2 | 2 | | Senate Resolution 195 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Senators Watson of the 1st, Lucas of the 26th, Orrock of the 36th, Hufstetler of the 52nd |
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| 4 | 4 | | and Kirkpatrick of the 32nd |
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| 5 | 5 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | Recognizing March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; and for other purposes. |
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| 7 | 7 | | 1 |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) dedicates time2 |
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| 9 | 9 | | and resources to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness; and3 |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, ASGE represents more than 16,000 gastroenterologists and allied health care4 |
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| 11 | 11 | | professionals around the world who are dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive5 |
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| 12 | 12 | | health through education and advocacy and promoting excellence in gastrointestinal6 |
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| 13 | 13 | | endoscopy; and7 |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, the number of uninsured or underinsured patients in the United States who have8 |
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| 15 | 15 | | a positive (abnormal) CRC screening test result who get a timely follow-up colonoscopy is9 |
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| 16 | 16 | | just 50 to 70 percent; and10 |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, the low follow-up colonoscopy rate can be attributed to a diverse and complex11 |
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| 18 | 18 | | mix of barriers or obstacles related to the health care system, policy, and one's socioeconomic12 |
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| 19 | 19 | | status and community; and13 |
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| 20 | 20 | | S. R. 195 |
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| 21 | 21 | | - 1 - 25 LC 112 2999 |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, CRC is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second |
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| 23 | 23 | | 14 |
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| 24 | 24 | | leading cause of cancer death in women under 50 in the United States; and15 |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, CRC has a 90 percent survival rate when detected early enough; and16 |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, ASGE recommends that people who have not had colorectal cancer or polyps17 |
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| 27 | 27 | | or who do not have any high-risk factors for CRC should begin getting screened for CRC at18 |
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| 28 | 28 | | the age of 45; and19 |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, ASGE is working with Community Health Care Systems, Inc., which is a20 |
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| 30 | 30 | | federally qualified health center that cares for patients in middle Georgia, on a project that21 |
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| 31 | 31 | | is designed to increase the follow-up colonoscopy rate for uninsured and underinsured people22 |
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| 32 | 32 | | who have a positive or abnormal stool-based CRC screening test; and23 |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Community Health Care Systems is identifying and assisting hundreds of24 |
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| 34 | 34 | | uninsured and underinsured patients to get screened for CRC using a stool-based DNA test25 |
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| 35 | 35 | | and to get a follow-up colonoscopy if it's necessary at no cost to the patients; and26 |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, ASGE and Community Health Care Systems will support these patients with27 |
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| 37 | 37 | | professional navigators from Horizons Community Solutions who will guide them through28 |
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| 38 | 38 | | the full continuum of care at no cost to the patients; and29 |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, ASGE and Community Health Care Systems are collaborating on this project30 |
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| 40 | 40 | | with physicians and allied health care professionals; patient navigators; legislators and31 |
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| 41 | 41 | | regulators; state and local advocacy organizations such as the Georgia CRC Roundtable,32 |
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| 42 | 42 | | Georgia CORE, and Fight CRC!; and community leaders; and33 |
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| 43 | 43 | | S. R. 195 |
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| 44 | 44 | | - 2 - 25 LC 112 2999 |
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| 45 | 45 | | WHEREAS, gastroenterologists perform colonoscopies to prevent or detect CRC by |
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| 46 | 46 | | 34 |
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| 47 | 47 | | removing colon polyps; and35 |
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| 48 | 48 | | WHEREAS, a follow-up colonoscopy is required after a positive non-colonoscopic screening36 |
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| 49 | 49 | | test result to derive the benefits of screening; and37 |
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| 50 | 50 | | WHEREAS, there are several other recommended options for CRC screening; and38 |
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| 51 | 51 | | WHEREAS, offering patients screening options can help increase patient adherence to39 |
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| 52 | 52 | | screening.40 |
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| 53 | 53 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body41 |
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| 54 | 54 | | recognize March 2025 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and encourage eligible42 |
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| 55 | 55 | | citizens to consult their health care providers and begin regular screenings.43 |
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| 56 | 56 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that ASGE's project has the potential to lead to the44 |
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| 57 | 57 | | development of a public policy model and a toolkit that can be used to increase the follow-up45 |
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| 58 | 58 | | colonoscopy rate for underserved people across the United States and has the potential to46 |
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| 59 | 59 | | save countless lives.47 |
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| 60 | 60 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed48 |
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| 61 | 61 | | to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the49 |
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| 62 | 62 | | press.50 |
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| 63 | 63 | | S. R. 195 |
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| 64 | 64 | | - 3 - |
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