Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed into law legislation that will require insurers to cover breast magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasounds for women at increased risk of breast cancer.
This makes Pennsylvania one of few states mandating insurance companies pay the bulk of the high cost that can run into the hundreds and thousands of dollars associated with these supplemental screenings for women with the following criteria:
- A personal or family history of breast cancer or genetic predisposition to it;
- Extremely dense breast tissue; or
- Heterogeneously dense breast tissue with one other high-risk factor for breast cancer.
Under the law, the patient still may be responsible for co-pays, co-insurance and/or deductibles based on the individual’s health insurance policy.
“This is a great victory for the women of Pennsylvania and the families that love them. We salute Governor Tom Wolf for signing SB 595, legislation we know will save women’s lives or greatly improve women’s lives by providing affordable access to the early detection of breast cancer,” said PA Breast Cancer Coalition President and founder Pat Halpin-Murphy, who shepherded the bill through the legislative process.
She also credited Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Montgomery County, who sponsored the legislation through several legislative sessions.
“Medical advancements have brought greater peace of mind to many women suffering from breast cancer,” Mensch said in a statement. “Over the years, insurance coverages have been working to keep pace with these advancements to ensure the best possible outcomes for breast cancer victims. Senate Bill 595 brings the medical community and the insurance community even closer together to provide better coverage, and to hopefully provide greater health, comfort and peace of mind to those suffering with this disease.”
The new law applies only to insurance companies that issue policies covered under Pennsylvania law. tes vary depending on a patient’s insurance plan.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that MRIs can detect 2.5 times more breast cancers than 3D mammograms in women with dense breasts.
“It will help women who need MRI or ultrasound find their breast cancer at an earlier treatable stage,” Halpin-Murphy told PennLive in an earlier interview. “When we say it’s important to diagnose at an earlier stage, it means you have a better chance of reduced severity of the treatment side effects and after effects.”
The new law applies only to insurance companies that issue policies covered under Pennsylvania law. Implementation dates vary depending upon the patient’s particular insurance p
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
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