State Sen. Steve Meredith has been appointed to a healthcare advisory committee.
Senate President Robert Stivers selected Meredith, R-Leitchfield, for the Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention Advisory Committee.
The committee’s purpose is to provide oversight and recommendations to the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program and report annually to the Kentucky General Assembly, state officials said.
The Senate President and House Speaker appoint one member of each respective chamber to the committee for a four-year term. Additional members of the committee represent organizations and demographics most affected by colon cancer in the commonwealth.
“When first made aware of a vacancy, I knew Steve was the person to represent our caucus on this committee,” Stivers said. “Before joining the senate, Steve spent decades as a healthcare executive, and his professional background will bring unparalleled insight and expertise.”
Meredith, former CEO of then-Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center, expressed gratitude to Stivers for his selection to the committee as he looks forward to influencing a more positive outcome for colon cancer patients.
“I am truly honored and want to thank President Stivers for having the confidence in me to serve on this committee,” Meredith said. “What initially led me to seek this office was to address healthcare needs in the commonwealth and a desire to identify ways to make our government agencies more efficient. Sadly, far too many Kentuckians are losing their lives to colon cancer, but I am confident that this committee will have a meaningful impact and can save lives.”
The Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening and Prevention committee was established by Kentucky Revised Statutes – Chapter 214 in 2008, focusing on giving uninsured and underinsured Kentuckians with individual incomes at or less than 300 percent of the poverty level.
The goal of the program is to reduce colon cancer deaths through the prevention and early detection of colon cancer while identifying ways for Kentuckians to make access to high-quality colon cancer screening services, including colonoscopy, easier.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky has one of the highest per capita death rates from colon cancer in the nation.
In 2021 the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 16, a measure that updated the Colon Cancer Screening Program with its fund and advisory committee to include “and Prevention” to the title. It required proceeds acquired from selling special cancer prevention license plates to be directed to the program fund and used solely for colon cancer screening and prevention.
The bill also updated the membership of the program’s advisory committee and required the Department for Medicaid Services to present statistics, annually and upon request, on cancer services related to colorectal cancer.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
