Earlier this month, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1828, advancing the bipartisan proposal around breast cancer screening access to Governor Youngkin’s desk. The vote came on the heels of a new report from the American Cancer Society that revealed a shift in the burden of the disease from men to women. Cases of cancer are declining in men while diagnoses are rising in women, specifically younger women. A continued drop in cancer mortality was also noted in the report, thanks in part to advances in early detection and treatment of cancer. Advocates with ACS’s advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), including a local Virginia Beach breast cancer survivor, are hoping the governor sees House Bill 1828 as an opportunity to address the troubling trend.
In 2025, more than 8,200 Virginians will be diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 1,200 are expected to die from the disease. House Bill 1828 represents a bipartisan opportunity to address the financial barriers to Virginians’ access to lifesaving breast cancer screening by removing costs associated with diagnostic breast examinations.
Virginia Beach native Donna Rennick is a breast cancer survivor who has spent much of the intervening 25 years since her treatment advocating for Virginians in the fight against cancer. She views House Bill 1828 as a critical step toward improving mortality rates for breast cancer.
“The single best thing that state legislators can do to reduce their constituents’ chance of dying from breast cancer is to break down existing barriers to screening. Early detection changes the game in breast cancer. Had I been diagnosed at a more advanced stage, I don’t know that I would be here today advocating for others,” said Rennick.
A recent study conducted by ACS CAN found that over 70% of commercially-insured patients encountered out-of-pocket expenses for follow-up breast cancer diagnostic tests in 2023. While screening mammograms are free to most insured women starting at age 40, follow-up testing after a suspected or actual abnormal screening often results in out-of-pocket cost sharing for patients. The report showed the out-of-pocket costs across procedures varied across states with Virginia having an average out-of-pocket cost share of nearly 29%.
Rennick continued, “Out-of-pocket obligations only serve to limit the completion of the breast cancer screening process. House Bill 1828 is looking to address that and ensure more Virginians can get screened. As a breast cancer survivor and ACS CAN advocate, I couldn’t be happier to see lawmakers pass this critical legislation and hope Governor Youngkin lends his support as well.”
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.