The National Blood Clot Alliance Volunteer President Leslie Lake called upon Congress to protect the American public from blood clots by supporting the bipartisan Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act (HR 5699) during a press conference hosted by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) Wednesday.
“As the nation’s leading patient advocacy organization focused on the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of life-threatening blood clots, NBCA unequivocally supports the passage of the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act and we urge Congress to do the same,” Lake said.
Named after Blunt Rochester’s husband, Charles, who died of a pulmonary embolism in 2014, the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act’s goals are to raise awareness, establish an advisory committee, and enhance data collection around blood clots. Blunt Rochester introduced the bill in September 2023.
To align with her work on the bill, Blunt Rochester on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive toolkit, “Blood Clot Awareness Action, and Advocacy: The Toolkit,” containing information on blood clots, Blunt Rochester’s bipartisan work in Congress to spread awareness of blood clots, and ways the public can advocate for themselves and others at the doctor’s office.
“This toolkit is intended to help individuals recognize the signs and symptoms of blood clots and inspire action and advocacy,” she said. “Blood clots are treatable when caught, but too often there is a lack of information on how to properly get treatment – this is especially true for patients of color, seniors, and cancer survivors. I will continue my bipartisan efforts in Congress to get the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act over the finish line so we can strengthen awareness on this issue and save lives.”
Paul Tonko (D-NY), a co-sponsor of the Charles Rochester Blood Clot Prevention and Treatment Act, said he became aware of the danger of blood clots from the family of Jennifer Luft, a constituent who died in 2022 due to a blood clot being misdiagnosed.
“These deadly but preventable blood clots take lives every day, but raising awareness about the signs can make all the difference,” Tonko said. “I’m proud to join my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Blunt Rochester, in supporting this legislation that honors the memory of her late husband and will save lives.”
Dr. Deron Burton, director of the Division of Blood Disorders and Public Health Genomics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pointed out that blood clots can affect anyone, but they are preventable and can be treated if discovered early.
“It’s important that Americans know how to protect themselves from blood clots, and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of blood clots so they know when to seek care,” Burton said.
The toolkit is available here.
