Susan G. Komen® Applauds Bill Introduction, Urges Quick Passage
Honolulu – Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization commends Representative Lauren Matsumoto (R-Mililani) for working with Komen to ensure that everyone has equitable access to diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging, by eliminating the financial barriers patients face in accessing needed breast cancer screening.
In Hawaii, more than 1,510 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 200 are expected to die of the disease in 2025 alone. The exorbitant out-of-pocket costs associated with these critical breast imaging procedures, ranging from hundreds-to-thousands of dollars, often force individuals to make significant financial sacrifices or forego tests that can confirm or rule out cancer.
“Nobody should be forced to skip medical care that helps to detect breast cancer early because of the cost, yet thousands of Hawaiians are forced to make that decision every year,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “This bill will remove the financial barrier to diagnostic and supplemental imaging so that individuals can get the care they need without having to endure undue financial burden. This is a pivotal step toward equitable access to care, potentially saving lives by enabling earlier detection of the disease and treatment.”
HB 598, introduced by Representative Matsumoto, eliminates the patient out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging such as breast MRIs and ultrasounds. Unfortunately, when a mammogram reveals an abnormality or an individual is at a higher risk of breast cancer, diagnostic and supplemental imaging is required to determine if the patient needs a biopsy. The high out-of-pocket costs for this imaging deters many individuals in Hawaii from receiving their recommended care, and as a result, breast cancer can be diagnosed at a later stage, when it is much deadlier and much more costly to treat.
“I’m proud to continue our efforts to eliminate burdensome out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging,” said Rep. Matsumoto. “With the introduction of HB 598, we are a step closer to joining 28 other states which have passed similar legislation to ease the burden of breast cancer in their communities. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Hawaii State Legislature to advance this critical piece of legislation.”
A Komen-commissioned study found out-of-pockets costs for patients to range from $234 for a diagnostic mammogram to more than $1,000 for a breast MRI. Additionally, a recent study published in Radiology found that 1 in 5 patients said they would not go in for recommended follow-up imaging if they had to pay a deductible. This diagnostic or supplemental imaging is often crucial for individuals previously diagnosed with breast cancer or those considered high-risk. The high out-of-pocket cost creates inequities in essential care and imposes additional financial barriers for these patients.
