Susan G. Komen® Commends Bill Introductions; Urges Quick Passage
HARRISBURG – Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization commends Representative Curry (D-Delaware County) for working with Komen to eliminate financial barriers to earlier breast cancer detection by ensuring that everyone has equitable access to diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging.
In Pennsylvania, more than 12,830 people were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 1870 died of the disease in 2023 alone. The exorbitant out-of-pocket costs associated with essential breast imaging procedures ranging from hundreds-to-thousands of dollars, often force individuals into the difficult decision of skipping these tests or making significant financial sacrifices.
“Nobody should have to forego a test that helps to rule out breast cancer or confirm the need for a biopsy because of the cost, yet thousands of people in Pennsylvania are doing it every year,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “This bill will provide pivotal access to diagnostic and supplemental imaging so that individuals can get the care they need without having to endure undue financial burden. It is an important step toward equitable access to care, potentially saving lives by facilitating early detection and treatment. Governor Shapiro and the Pennsylvania General Assembly have shown a strong commitment to breast cancer through the passage of Act 1 of 2023 and we hope that this bill will build on that momentum.”
House Bill 1944, introduced by Representative Curry, eliminates the patient out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging including MRIs, ultrasounds, and diagnostic mammograms. While no-cost mammograms are currently available to women, when a mammogram reveals an abnormality, diagnostic and supplemental imaging is necessary to give medical providers a closer look at the abnormality and determine if a biopsy is needed. The high out-of-pockets costs for the follow-up imaging deters many individuals in Pennsylvania from getting it, and as a result, breast cancer can be diagnosed at a later stage.
“HB 1944 is good, sensible legislation that helps to continue to make women’s healthcare a priority in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said Representative Curry. “It is so important to recognize and take action around the staggering number of breast cancer patients who are projected to be diagnosed, but also the devastating number of lives that will be impacted due to loss around the preventable disease. This bill is so important to me on so many levels. As a woman who has been directly impacted by the disease, I know that accessibility and affordability for continuity of care for diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging is not an optional but critical in preventing more tragic outcomes.”
An estimated 12% of individuals are called back for additional imaging after an abnormal screening mammogram and require diagnostic imaging. This diagnostic or supplemental imaging is often crucial for individuals previously diagnosed with breast cancer or those considered high-risk. The cost creates inequities in care and imposes additional financial barriers for these patients.
Despite significant advancements in breast cancer screening and diagnostics over the past 30 years, disparities persist across demographics. Evidence shows that Black and Hispanic breast cancer patients tend to be diagnosed at a later stage, potentially due to delays in follow-up imaging after abnormal findings on an annual mammogram.
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.
