Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate based on political persuasion.
However, access to testing for the disease does discriminate by geography and economy.
To that end, two U.S. senators have put their partisanship aside in the name of health.
Sen. Katie Britt joined Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in reintroducing the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for diagnostic breast cancer tests, making them more accessible and affordable, the senators said.
“The ABCD Act would provide greater access to mammography so women can be diagnosed as soon as possible, giving them the widest variety of treatment options and the best chance to defeat this disease,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “Mammograms are a crucial, potentially lifesaving tool to detect breast cancer, and this commonsense, bipartisan legislation would ensure that a warranted follow-up diagnostic examination is also covered by health insurers at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.
“I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation along with Senator Shaheen.”
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Current law requires insurance companies to provide no-copay coverage for breast cancer screenings, but that does not extend to the diagnostic testing, including 3D mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds, that are necessary in many cases, as an estimated 10% of screening mammograms require follow-up diagnostic testing.
“Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is difficult enough – families across the country shouldn’t have to also worry about whether they can even afford the tests necessary to reach such a diagnosis, which can sometimes be the difference between life and death,” said Shaheen (D-N.H.). “Breast cancer — and the countless challenges that come with it — knows no geographic borders nor political affiliation.
“Let’s put politics aside and pass our bipartisan bill that could help save so many lives.”
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama states that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, including an estimated 4,500 women in Alabama in 2023.
Susan G. Komen estimates that in 2025, an estimated 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be detected in women across the United States. Additionally, a Susan G. Komen study estimated that diagnostic tests can cost patients between $234 and $1,041.
“For far too many, needed breast imaging and access to a timely diagnosis are still out of reach due to high out-of-pocket expenses, leaving patients forced to decide between their health and their finances,” said Molly Guthrie, vice president of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act will remove the financial barrier to diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging so that individuals can get the care they need without having to endure undue financial burden.
“We are grateful to Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Katie Britt and Reps. Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick for their leadership on this vital legislation.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is also a cosponsor. Dingell (D-Mich.) and Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) recently introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. The members’ legislation is endorsed by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Britt is a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. She also introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress. The full text of the ABCD Act is available here.
Courtesy of 256 Today.
