The recent Capitol Hill briefing on breast density legislation focused on the need for expanded insurance coverage for supplemental imaging exams like MRIs and ultrasounds after mammograms, especially for women with dense breast tissue. While the new FDA breast density notification requirements are a step forward, advocates, including radiologists and cancer survivors, argue that more must be done to ensure access to vital diagnostic imaging without out-of-pocket costs. The bipartisan “Find It Early Act” is crucial, but it faces challenges securing support in the Senate.
Texan story time:
When I shared my second breast cancer diagnosis in 2023, a friend— a single mother—reached out to me. She felt something was wrong but wasn’t sure. I advised her to get checked, and she did. After a mammogram didn’t detect anything, her doctor recommended an ultrasound. Unfortunately, due to a lack of insurance, she couldn’t afford it. In 2024, she announced her own breast cancer diagnosis.
This story breaks my heart. It’s stories like hers that make the "Find It Early Act" so crucial. If passed, this bill would ensure insurance coverage for supplemental imaging like ultrasounds and MRIs after mammograms, especially for women with dense breast tissue—helping detect cancers earlier, when treatment is most effective.
To help ensure the "Find It Early Act" gains support in the Senate, advocacy is key.
You can:
1. Contact your senators to express support for the bill, sharing personal stories or data on the importance of breast imaging for dense breast tissue.
2. Join or support organizations that lobby for early detection initiatives.
3. Use social media platforms to raise awareness, urging others to do the same.
4. Participate in breast cancer awareness events to amplify the need for this legislation.
Collective action will put pressure on lawmakers to move the bill forward.
Radiologists speak during Capitol Hill briefing on key breast imaging legislation (radiologybusiness.com)
Texan story time:
When I shared my second breast cancer diagnosis in 2023, a friend— a single mother—reached out to me. She felt something was wrong but wasn’t sure. I advised her to get checked, and she did. After a mammogram didn’t detect anything, her doctor recommended an ultrasound. Unfortunately, due to a lack of insurance, she couldn’t afford it. In 2024, she announced her own breast cancer diagnosis.
This story breaks my heart. It’s stories like hers that make the "Find It Early Act" so crucial. If passed, this bill would ensure insurance coverage for supplemental imaging like ultrasounds and MRIs after mammograms, especially for women with dense breast tissue—helping detect cancers earlier, when treatment is most effective.
To help ensure the "Find It Early Act" gains support in the Senate, advocacy is key.
You can:
1. Contact your senators to express support for the bill, sharing personal stories or data on the importance of breast imaging for dense breast tissue.
2. Join or support organizations that lobby for early detection initiatives.
3. Use social media platforms to raise awareness, urging others to do the same.
4. Participate in breast cancer awareness events to amplify the need for this legislation.
Collective action will put pressure on lawmakers to move the bill forward.
Radiologists speak during Capitol Hill briefing on key breast imaging legislation (radiologybusiness.com)