Senator Portantino Reintroduces Bill to Expand Health Care Coverage for Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screening

Monday, January 30 2023

For Immediate Release: January 30, 2023

Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400

 

Senator Portantino Reintroduces Bill to Expand Health Care Coverage for Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screening

Sacramento, CA –Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) introduced legislation today that addresses a significant flaw in women’s healthcare insurance coverage.  SB 257 fixes a delay and absence of live-saving early detection diagnosis by expanding health care coverage for breast imaging following an abnormal mammography. 

“I am proud to reintroduce a measure that recognizes the importance of follow up diagnostic testing for breast cancer screenings,” stated Senator Portantino. “Health insurance only covers the initial mammogram and does not extend to these crucial follow-up diagnostics, which may save lives. SB 257 significantly impacts health outcomes for women.  I am thankful to Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes for suggesting the idea. Her activism will help thousands of women.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women of all races. 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, and they are often required to pay out-of-pocket for follow-up testing.  This can cause thousands of dollars and cause many women to delay or avoid these appointments and thus delay treatment that can save their life.

“We applaud Senator Portantino for introducing this bill which will ensure thousands of Californians can access the diagnostic or supplemental breast imaging they require,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “This legislation will eliminate a major barrier to early diagnosis, immediately removing the financial burden that far too often falls on the shoulders of patients.”

"I am very grateful that Senator Portantino remains committed to expanding health care coverage for breast cancer screenings. Since sharing this bill idea with the Senator, I lost my best friend to breast cancer and another family member has since been diagnosed.  If SB 257 helps prevent even one woman and her community from pain and suffering, it will all be worth it.  Women will be able to make an appointment for diagnostic imaging and in turn can begin early treatment if necessary - which in turn will save lives." stated Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes.

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.

“I am happy to see SB 257 introduced and appreciate Senator Portantino’s commitment to this important issue,” said Dr. Laura Sirott, an OB/GYN and Past Chair of the American College of OB/GYN’s District IX. “Last year, I treated a patient, who, following her annual mammogram, was told she should have MRI for increased breast cancer risk due to family history.  After the MRI, she received a $800 bill since insurance did not cover this expense.  That patient later confided in me that she would not have done the MRI due to cost if she had known it would not be covered.  Thankfully, the results were negative but what if they had been positive? SB 257 addresses this problem head on and makes it possible for patients to get diagnostic breast imaging following an abnormal mammography without having to pay out of pocket. Cost should not be a primary factor when it comes to making critical health care decisions.”

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