Reporter Alice Olstein of TalkingPoints Memo.com, a (legitimate) news source on Capitol Hill Tweeted: "I asked Sen. Roberts if he supports scrapping Essential Health Benefits. "I wouldn't want to lose my mammograms," he snarked"
Sen. Pat Roberts apologizes for 'mammogram' line
Story from CNN.COM:
Updated 2:54 PM ET, Thu March 23, 2017
(CNN)Sen.
Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, apologized Thursday afternoon for
making an apparent joke about mammograms related to what features are or
are not included in Republicans' plan to repeal and replace Obamacare.
 |
| Kansas Republican Senator Pat Roberts Credit: CNN |
"I deeply regret my comments
on such an important topic," Roberts said in a statement. "I know
several individuals whose lives have been saved by mammograms, and I
recognize how essential they are to women's health. I never intended to
indicate otherwise, and I apologize for my comments."
Roberts, who's known for employing a dry sense of humor, told a Talking Points Memo reporter earlier in the day: "I wouldn't want to lose my mammograms."
He was referring to a potential change in the Republican health care plan that
would gut a measure requiring insurers to cover "essential health
benefits," including mammograms for breast cancer screening.