Portantino’s Effort to Expand Breast Cancer Screening Heading to the Governor
For Immediate Release: September 12, 2023
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Portantino’s Effort to Expand Breast Cancer Screening Heading to the Governor
Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill 257, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), addresses a significant flaw in women’s healthcare insurance coverage. The bill mandates that a doctor prescribed diagnostic imaging following an abnormal mammography is covered by insurance. SB 257 was approved by the Senate and sent to the Governor for signature today.
“SB 257 recognizes that follow up diagnostic testing for preventative breast cancer screenings will have a positive health impact for women,” stated Senator Portantino. “A typical health plan covers an initial mammogram but does not extend to crucial follow-up tests, which we know may save lives. The idea for the bill came from a constituent, Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes. I was moved by Gayaneh’s passionate presentation of the issue and I continue to be appreciative of her efforts to advance this policy to change California insurance coverage law.”
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Early detecting can reduce the risk of dying from the disease by 25-30%. Health insurance coverage extends to mammography screening, which detects 80-90% of breast cancers in women who have not yet manifested physical symptoms. Women who receive abnormal results on a breast cancer screening can be instructed to undergo follow-up testing to ensure that the abnormality is not cancerous. They are often required to pay out-of-pocket for these follow-up tests. This sometime costs thousands of dollars and causes too many women to delay or avoid them and thus delay treatment that can save their life.
"Susan G. Komen applauds the California Legislature for passing SB 257, which will ensure thousands of Californians can access the diagnostic or supplemental breast imaging they require. We strongly urge Governor Newsom to sign this legislation, eliminating a major financial barrier to earlier diagnosis that has far too often fallen on the shoulders of patients," said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen.
"I am grateful that SB 257 passed the Legislature and hope that Governor Newsom signs this life saving bill into law,” stated Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes. “If we can help prevent even one woman and her community from pain and suffering, it will all be worth it. Thank you to Senator Portantino for his commitment to expanding health care coverage for breast cancer screenings."
SB 257 would require that a health insurance policy provide coverage for a medically necessary diagnostic breast imaging, including diagnostic breast imaging following an abnormal mammography result. Diagnostic breast imaging includes breast magnetic resonance imaging and breast ultrasound.
“Patients should not have to worry about the costs of diagnostic breast imaging following an abnormal mammography,” said Dr. Laura Sirott, an OB/GYN and Past Chair of the American College of OB/GYN’s District IX. “While a screening mammogram may be covered, any additional studies needed if the imaging is abnormal or deemed incomplete is not. This creates a heavy burden on the patient, both emotionally and financially when they must pay out of pocket for added studies.”
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