A trend that 黑料网® (黑料网®) state government affairs staff is seeing as state legislatures convene for their 2023 legislative sessions are more bills being introduced related to breast imaging. As of Feb. 1, state government affairs staff are currently tracking more than 30 measures related to breast imaging. Below we highlight a few of those bills — a full report is available through Fiscal Note, which 黑料网 staff uses to track state bills.
Breast Density Notification and Coverage
In West Virginia, House Bill has been introduced and referred to the Committee on Health and Human Resources. The bill requires that if a mammography screening shows that a patient has heterogeneously or extreme dense breasts, the radiologist or mammography facility should indicate that in the patient summary.
Also, in West Virginia, has been introduced which includes requirements for health insurers to cover breast cancer screenings. Providers would also be required to provide patients with a notification of breast density.
Breast Imaging Coverage
In Hawaii, would increase the categories of women required to be covered for mammogram screenings and require the existing health insurance mandate for coverage of low-dose mammography to include digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis. The bill was heard in the House Committee on Health and Homelessness Feb. 1.
The Hawaii Radiological Society supports this measure.
In Missouri, specifies that any health carrier or health benefit plan that offers or issues health benefit plans that provide coverage for diagnostic breast examinations, coverage for supplemental breast examinations, low-dose mammography screenings, breast magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, or any combination of such coverages cannot impose any deductible, coinsurance, co-payment or similar out-of-pocket expense with respect to such coverage. The Missouri House Committee on Healthcare Reform recently held a public hearing on the legislation.
The Missouri Radiological Society supports this legislation.
In Maryland, prohibits insurers, nonprofit health service plans and health maintenance organizations that provide coverage for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations from imposing a copayment, coinsurance or deductible requirement for the examination. It has been cross-filed with SB 184. The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on Feb. 8. The prime sponsor of the legislation sits on the Finance Committee. The House Health and Government Operations Committee will hold a hearing on HB 376 Feb. 16.
In Nebraska, expands health insurance coverage for breast exams to include new forms of diagnostic imaging and lowers the age of insured annual breast examinations and empowers physicians to set the frequency and type of annual breast examinations for women with a family history of breast cancer who are under the age to normally receive annual examinations. The bill has a hearing in the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee Feb. 7.
In Washington State, requires that, for health plans that include coverage of supplemental breast exams and diagnostic breast exams, health carriers may not impose cost sharing for those exams. The bill was amended in the Health and Long Term Care Committee to add digital breast tomosynthesis to the list of diagnostic and supplemental breast exams to be covered without cost sharing.
The bill is supported by the Washington State Radiological Society and is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
For more information on these bills, or any other state legislative activity, please contact Eugenia Brandt, 黑料网 Senior Government Affairs Director or Dillon Harp, 黑料网 Senior Government Relations Specialist.