Portantino’s Effort to Expand Breast Cancer Screening Options Passes Assembly Health Committee
For Immediate Release: June 28, 2023
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Portantino’s Effort to Expand Breast Cancer Screening Options Passes Assembly Health Committee
Sacramento, CA – Senate 257, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) addresses a significant flaw in women’s healthcare insurance coverage. The bill mandates that follow up diagnostic imaging following an abnormal mammography is covered by insurance. SB 257 passed the Assembly Health Committee.
“SB 257 recognizes the importance of follow up diagnostic testing for breast cancer screenings and positively impacts health outcomes for women,” stated Senator Portantino. “A typical health plan only covers an initial mammogram and does not extend to crucial follow-up tests, which may save lives. I would like to thank Gayaneh Pezeshkian Avanes, who suggested the bill idea and I am grateful for her continued efforts in advocating for this important 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. 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.
“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.”
"I am grateful that SB 257 passed the Assembly Health Committee 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. Thank you 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.
“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.”
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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