Idaho committee advances bill to require private insurers cover supplemental breast imaging for high‑risk patients

Boise — The Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 134 to the House floor with a due pass recommendation after more than an hour of testimony from medical providers, patients and insurers about the financial and clinical barriers to supplemental breast imaging for high‑risk people.

The bill, presented by Representative John Healy of District 15 and Representative Brooke Green of District 18, would require private health plans in Idaho (excluding Medicaid and self‑insured, ERISA‑regulated plans) to cover supplemental breast cancer screening — including MRI, contrast‑enhanced mammography or targeted ultrasound — for people identified as at heightened risk because of genetic mutations, prior radiation, very dense breast tissue or relevant family history.

Supporters told the committee these services can detect cancers missed by standard mammography, reduce advanced‑stage diagnoses and lower long‑term treatment costs. "Breast cancer doesn't care about political parties and neither should we," Representative Brooke Green said during testimony. Green, who described her own recent diagnosis and dense breast tissue, urged the committee to remove financial barriers to early detection.

The bill's proponents included clinicians who described both clinical need and cost tradeoffs. Dr. Menon, a breast surgeon who trained at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said adjunct screening helps identify higher‑risk women earlier and…