The Early Detection Saves Lives Coalition released the following statement upon conclusion of the state legislative session:
“As patient advocates, physicians, and medical technology organizations, we advocated tirelessly throughout the 2023-24 legislative session to expand access to life-saving, evidence-based breast cancer exams. As introduced, Assembly Bill 117/Senate Bill 121, authored by Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah) and Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton), would have removed the financial barriers to accessing exams like MRI, ultrasound, and diagnostic mammograms faced by the 40% of women with dense breast tissue and the over 5,700 Wisconsin women diagnosed with breast cancer each year.” “We thank the many patients like Linda Hansen, Gail Zeamer, and Ashley Inda who shared their stories of receiving late-stage breast cancer diagnoses shortly after having normal screening mammograms. Traditional screening mammograms can miss as many as 50% of cancers in patients with the highest level of breast density. AB 117/SB 121, as introduced, would have guaranteed that Wisconsin health plans cover, without cost-sharing, the additional imaging needed by women like Linda, Gail, Ashley, and countless others, to catch their cancer early – when it is most treatable.” “While misinformation spread by the insurance industry prevented AB 117/SB 121 from passing this session, we will work throughout the legislative interim to educate lawmakers on the importance of passing this bi-partisan bill. Lawmakers shared that they received more constituent support for this bill over the last year than nearly all other legislation. It is time for Wisconsin to join the 20+ other states that have passed legislation eliminating cost-sharing for both supplemental and diagnostic breast imaging.”
