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Today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), co-chairs of the House Cancer Caucus, reintroduced bipartisan legislation to make breast cancer diagnostic tests more affordable and accessible to women by eliminating copays and additional out-of-pocket expenses. The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act requires insurance companies to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing.

“We know that early diagnosis saves lives, so no one should be unable to access critical testing because they can’t afford it,” said Dingell. “One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and this bipartisan legislation would eliminate financial barriers that prevent too many women from getting the diagnostic imaging tests they need.”

"Access to life-saving diagnostic testing should never depend on a person’s ability to pay. When it comes to breast cancer, early diagnosis is critical — and financial barriers can be deadly," said Fitzpatrick. "The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act ensures that no woman is left behind simply because she cannot afford the care she needs. As Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus, this legislation is part of my ongoing mission to deliver bipartisan solutions that expand access, strengthen early detection, and save lives."

“As a breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed early, at age 41, I know firsthand how critical early detection is to survival. It helped save my life, but cost should never be a barrier that delays women from getting screenings,” said Wasserman Schultz. “At a time when breast cancer is affecting more and more women, especially younger women, I am proud to collaborate with my colleagues on this important, bipartisan legislation, to eliminate copays and additional out-of-pocket expenses that create breast cancer diagnostic testing hurdles. We cannot allow financial status to limit access to essential services, like screenings and preventive care. Too many lives depend on it.”

“For far too many, needed breast imaging and access to a timely diagnosis are still out of reach due to high out-of-pocket expenses, leaving patients forced to decide between their health and their finances,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen. “The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act will remove the financial barrier to diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging so that individuals can get the care they need without having to endure undue financial burden. We grateful to Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Katie Britt and Representatives Debbie Dingell, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Brian Fitzpatrick for their leadership on this vital legislation.”

Under current law, insurance companies are required to cover preventive health care like breast cancer screenings without copays, but not diagnostic testing. If a breast cancer screening shows that a woman may have breast cancer, a diagnostic test like an MRI or ultrasound is required to determine whether cancer is present. Since diagnosis is a separate process from screening, this disparity in coverage can result in additional costs for patients for required diagnostic tests.

Text of the legislation can be found here.