BOSTON – November 14, 2024 – Last night, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law legislation to address persistent inequities in breast cancer screening in the state. H.4918, An Act relative to medically necessary breast screenings and exams for equity and early detection requires that health plans regulated by the Commonwealth cover medically necessary screening and diagnostic breast imaging with no out- of-pocket costs.
The following statement can be attributed to Marc Hymovitz, Massachusetts director of government relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“Cost is a known barrier to completing follow up cancer screenings. By eliminating the potential for unexpected costs, we can increase the likelihood of timely, follow up screenings for those who need them – and thus the promise of better health outcomes – for all communities.
“Despite the fact that breast cancer death rates have been declining for several decades, not all people have benefited equally from the advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment that have helped achieve these lower rates. Eliminating cost barriers is a step towards addressing these inequities.
“We thank the House and Senate for passing this legislation and applaud Gov. Healey for prioritizing public health and signing H. 4918 into law.”
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