Check for a Lump, along with more than 40 organizations, in support of the Find It Early Act, H.R. 3086. This legislation would ensure that all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging, including mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI's with no patient cost-sharing.
The statement has been shared with the Find It Early Act sponsors, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). If you would like further background please check out Reps. DeLauro and Fitzpatrick’s introduction release.
Find It Early Act (HR 3086) Supporting Organizations
Beginning Sept 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will require that women be informed after their mammograms whether their breasts are “dense” or “not dense.” Women with dense breasts or at higher risk of breast cancer (e.g., inherited genetic variations, family/personal history of cancer, or other reason), benefit from increased cancer detection with supplemental screenings such as ultrasound or MRI in addition to their mammogram. Unfortunately, insurance coverage for those tests is not assured and can vary from state to state and insurer to insurer.
We are pleased to support the introduction of the Find It Early Act (HR 3086) introduced by Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Brian Fitzpatrick. The legislation would ensure that all insurance programs cover additional breast imaging at no cost to the patient, close loopholes inherent in individual state insurance laws, and cover both private and public plans including TRICARE and VHA. This law would make possible the earliest stage breast cancer diagnosis possible, when breast cancer is most treatable and survivable.
It is too often the case that women with dense breasts or who are at higher risk are informed they would benefit from additional breast screening, then discover the onus is on them to navigate getting approvals from their insurance provider. This can kick off a frustrating cycle of phone calls, correspondence, denials, appeals and more phone calls. Some of these women, who would clearly benefit from screening in addition to their mammogram, just give up.
The Find it Early Act will help ensure that when a woman is told that her mammogram might not be enough – she will not have to struggle to pay for additional imaging, or choose between household bills and a recommended test, or spread the cost of a test over one year and skip the next year because the cost of the exam has strained her budget.
We strongly support this timely legislation, which will provide life-saving examinations for the many American women who need them.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
American College of Radiology
American College of Surgeons
American Society of Breast Surgeons
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society of Radiologic Technologists
AHRA – The Association for Medical Imaging Management
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Breast Care for Washington
Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer
Bright Pink
Check for a Lump
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
DenseBreast-info, Inc.
Elizabeth Wende Breast Care
FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
Fox Chase Cancer Center
General Federation of Women’s Clubs of North Carolina
Susan G. Komen
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
Men Supporting Women With Cancer
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Black Nurses Association
National Consortium of Breast Centers
National Hispanic Medical Association
National Medical Association
National Women’s Health Network
NorthShore University HealthSystem / Teaching Affiliate of the University of Chicago
PA Breast Cancer Coalition
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Radiology Business Management Association
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Service Women’s Action Network
Sharsharet
Society of Breast Imaging
Tigerlily Foundation
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Woman’s Club of Raleigh
With your support we are confident Reps. DeLauro and Fitzpatrick will be able to advance H.R. 3086 through the House Energy and Commerce Committee soon.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important issue.
