Portantino Bill on Expanding Health Care Coverage for Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screening Passes Senate Floor
For Immediate Release: May 30, 2023
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Portantino Bill on Expanding Health Care Coverage for Lifesaving Breast Cancer Screening Passes Senate Floor
Sacramento, CA – Senate 257, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) addresses a significant flaw in women’s healthcare insurance coverage. SB 257, which passed the Senate, mandates that follow up diagnostic imaging following an abnormal mammography is covered by insurance.
“SB 257 recognizes the importance of follow up diagnostic testing for breast cancer screenings and significantly impacts health outcomes for women,” stated Senator Portantino. “Health insurance only covers the initial mammogram and does not extend to these crucial follow-up tests, which may save lives. I am thankful to Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes, who suggested the bill idea and for advocating for this change in the law.”
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 the Senate for passing this critical 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 earlier diagnosis, immediately removing the financial burden that has far too often fallen on the shoulders of patients.”
"It’s great to see SB 257 pass the Senate today,” stated Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes. “Recently, 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. I am very grateful to Senator Portantino for his commitment to expanding health care coverage for breast cancer screenings – this bill will save lives."
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.
“SB 257 makes it possible for patients to get diagnostic breast imaging following an abnormal mammography without having to pay out of pocket,” 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? Cost should not be a primary factor when it comes to making critical health care decisions.”
SB 257 is sponsored by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District IX and Susan G. Komen. The measure also has support from Biocom California, California Chronic Care Coalition, California Life Sciences, California Medical Association, California Professional Firefighters, California Radiological Society, and Stanford Health Care.
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