Desperate Housewife actress Marcia Cross met with lawmakers yesterday to express her support for a new law that would mandate minimal hospital stays for mastectomy patients. She is championing the Breast Cancer Protection Act of 2007 that would stop “drive-through” mastectomies. In addition to meeting with lawmakers, she is also filming public service announcements to raise awareness of the issue.

Some insurance companies won’t cover the costs of hospital stays for more than 24 hours after a mastectomy surgery, the surgical removal of a breast. Currently, 20 states mandate minimal hospital stay coverage of 48 hours after a patient undergoes a mastectomy. “It’s wrong that there are so many states who are lagging behind on this issue,” said Rep. Rosa DeLaura, D-Conn., a co-sponsor of the bill and a survivor of ovarian cancer.”It says something about our value of women in our society and women’s health in our society,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn, a co-sponsor of the bill and a survivor of ovarian cancer.

Cross said she first learned about the problem of “drive-through” mastectomies when Lifetime Television approached her and told her of plans to present 20 million signatures to Congress to bring attention to a piece of legislation that has lingered on Capital Hill for 12 years without getting passed. With continued promotion of the petition and with Cross’ new public service spot airing on Lifetime in the coming weeks, lawmakers and Lifetime hope that their message will hit home.

“I’m fighting every single day with insurance companies,” said Cross. “We feel a huge responsibility to our viewers. We have to make this bill a reality.”