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Committee advances bill to remove cost sharing for supplemental breast exams for high‑risk patients
Summary
Sen. Greg Leading and Susan G. Komen advocate for Senate Bill 123 to eliminate cost sharing for supplemental breast examinations for high‑risk individuals; committee approved the bill by voice vote after sponsors noted a $700,000 fiscal note based on general population assumptions.
Sen. Greg Leading, R‑District 30, and Lauren Marquette of Susan G. Komen told the Insurance & Commerce Committee that Senate Bill 123 would remove cost sharing for supplemental breast examinations for individuals identified as high risk.
Marquette said the measure mirrors policies in neighboring states and aims to remove financial barriers that might prompt a patient to decline a necessary diagnostic exam. “We don't want a woman out there, knowing that there might be a small cost to getting this necessary examination, and she passed on that,” she said.
The sponsor and Marquette told the committee that the state fiscal consultant provided a $700,000 estimate based on calculations using the general population; they said costs would likely be much lower if the estimate were limited to high‑risk patients. No opponents signed up to speak and the committee voted to advance the bill on a motion by Sen. Penzo, seconded by Sen. Murdoch.
Committee discussion focused on targeting the coverage to high‑risk individuals and on the fiscal note methodology. The bill was approved in committee by voice vote and will proceed in the legislative process.
