Susan G. Komen® Applauds Bill Introduction, Urges Quick Passage
PROVIDENCE – Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization commends Senator Sam Zurier (D-Providence) and Representative Kathleen Fogarty (D-South Kingstown) 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 Rhode Island, more than 1,140 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 120 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 Rhode Islanders 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 5430/S197, introduced by Sen. Zurier and Rep. Fogarty, 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 Rhode Island 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.
“The earlier we can identify and diagnose breast cancer; the more treatment options we can provide patients; the more lives we can save,” said Representative Fogarty. “I am proud to sponsor this bill that will eliminate the patient cost-sharing for medically necessary imaging and reduce cost barriers for all Rhode Islanders in need of a timely diagnosis or breast cancer survivors who are in need of a follow-up imaging.”
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.
