New Legislation Aims to Improve Coverage for Breast Cancer Detection

Katie Couric attends 2023 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on April 26, 2023

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Early detection is key to improving outcomes for those who develop the disease. To that end, U.S. House lawmakers are proposing a bill that would require all insurers to cover any supplemental breast imaging, beyond screening mammograms, with no patient out-of-pocket costs. The Find it Early Act would apply to private payers, traditional Medicare and Advantage plans, Medicaid and TRICARE. The legislation is getting significant attention from patient and provider advocacy groups, as well as from well-known personalities like journalist and breast cancer survivor Katie Couric.

In the wake of the Affordable Care Act, insurance carriers are required to cover screening mammograms. However, women who are at high risk for the disease or who have dense breast tissue may sometimes require additional testing, such as through ultrasound or MRI. Unfortunately, many women have difficulty accessing these tests when their insurance won’t cover them, which can result in delays in diagnosis and treatment. The Find it Early Act aims to solve this problem by requiring insurers to cover supplemental breast imaging tests, with no patient out-of-pocket costs.

The legislation was introduced by Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and has drawn support from many patient and provider advocacy groups, including the American College of Radiology. Couric, who is also an advocate for breast cancer detection and treatment, has voiced her support for the legislation and says she understands first-hand the importance of early detection.

Breast cancer is treatable and survivable if caught early. In fact, 99 percent of women who are diagnosed early survive. However, early detection is not always easy, and many women face financial barriers when it comes to accessing necessary testing. The Find it Early Act is a critical step toward improving access to these life-saving screenings.

One important aspect of the legislation is that it would apply to all insurers, including private payers, traditional Medicare and Advantage plans, Medicaid and TRICARE. This is significant because it means that women who rely on these different types of insurance plans would all have access to supplemental breast imaging tests with no out-of-pocket costs.

Of course, as with any legislation, there are still details to work out and potential challenges to address. However, the Find it Early Act appears to be a positive step toward improving access to necessary breast cancer screenings for women.

Breast cancer is a serious disease that affects many women around the world. Early detection is critical to improving outcomes for those who develop the disease. The Find it Early Act, proposed by U.S. House lawmakers, is an important step toward improving access to breast cancer screenings for women. The legislation would require all insurers to cover supplemental breast imaging tests, with no patient out-of-pocket costs. The legislation has drawn support from patient and provider advocacy groups, as well as from journalist and breast cancer survivor Katie Couric. While there are still details to be worked out and potential challenges to address, the Find it Early Act is a positive development for women’s health.