WELLPOINT. Four aasear? May 9, 2010 President Barack Obama “The White House 1600 Pennsyvania Avenue NW ‘Washington, DC 20500 Dear Me Presigent | was dsappointed to hear you rept fase information regaraing WelPoin's coverage of breast ‘cancer your weekly Presidential radio address as @ demonstation of your Administrations ‘commitment to song patent protecton. Mr. President, | wil tl you the same thing | fold HHS ‘Secretary Sebelius in recent ete, yout statement grossly misrepresents WelPont'® efforts to help prevent, detect and treat breast cancer among our 34 millon members. ‘Tobe absolutely cee: despite your claims, WellPoint doesnot single out women wih beast ance for recisson, Perod ‘The actual facts could not be clearer. 2008, WellPoint covered the treatment of approximately 200,000 women with breast cancer ata cost of nearly $2 billon. During that same perod, thre ‘were four caves nationwide where the issue of breast cancer or the poss of breast cancer was identified ine rescission, but they were not singled out because of er breest cancer. Cieary, covering the treatment of close to 200,000 while rescinging four policies should make our Intent inthis regard qute clear. Our poicy on rescissions has always been that tis based on fraud or misrepresenttion -a policy consistent with that contained inthe new legislation In fac. we adopted the precise plicy ofthe new legislation before anyother insurer We should aso note that we cover screening for women 40 and older, 10 years ear than the ‘guidelines publshed by your own USS. Preventive Services Task Force. We made this decision Because we know that early detection sth key o survival, wih a5 year survival rete of nearly 100% when diagnosed at stages 0-1. Ths also reduces costs forthe entre sysiom by avoiding the nearly ten-oi Increase in costs associated with weatment beginning ater stage 3, ‘Mr. President, tis country has along history of coming together after tough debates. The implementation ofthe new health care reform law shouldbe no sifferent. we are going to make ths law work an bana ofa Americans, the attacks onthe hee nsurance industry an industry thet provides valued coverage for more than 200 malion Americans ~ must end. We bellows that our recent action to adopt many ofthe insurance reforms eal than required Bylaw lean indieaton of ou wlingness to work wits your Admnistation fo achieve tis objective. ‘We agree that healthcare costs are rising at an unsustainable rate. While we continue to sve to ‘make nestheare coverage more affordable for our members, we know that there are many {aus for rising costs. Some of he mest conceming cost crivers include ilaon inthe cos or medical services provided, ncteases in utlization, oF the frequency with which these servces are Provided, andthe increased cost bore by the insured population when healthy indviuals hoose not to carry healthcare coverage. These issues are of eritcal importance to all Americans§ anc wil require solutions that include all stakeholders in healthcare, business and government. In fact, we have repeatedly asked to moot win Secretary Sebelius, but have not yo ecerved & response. This is simply not productive and notin the best interests of Americans. Wie share your vision for @ beter America and lok forward to working with you and your émintraton, Sheerey, lige 7 Laty ‘Angela F. Braly