Posted: | February 25, 2019 01:39 PM |
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From: | Representative Isabella V. Fitzgerald |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Breast Density Screening Coverage |
In 2019, over 41,000 women will die from breast cancer in the United States. In order to promote awareness of this disease and increase the rates of early detection, it is imperative that all effective screening methods be made available and affordable. As such, I will be introducing legislation to extend insurance coverage to breast cancer screening methods recommended for women with high breast density and increased risk factors. While high breast density in women is common and not abnormal, it makes it far more difficult to detect cancer on a standard mammogram. Supplemental screening methods such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) can markedly improve rates of early cancer detection in women with dense breasts or at an increased risk of developing the disease. Educating women about the risk of breast cancer is futile if we do not also facilitate affordable access to early detection methods, as well. Please join me in supporting this legislation to improve the health and future of all women across the Commonwealth. Thank you for your consideration. |
Introduced as HB1245