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Committee hears testimony urging clarity on follow‑up breast imaging coverage in SB 296
Summary
Advocates, oncologists and Susan G. Komen told the committee that SB 296 would close coverage gaps for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging and help detect cancer earlier.
Senator Michaelson and sponsors described SB 296 as clarifying and strengthening coverage for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging, building on earlier law that eliminated patient out‑of‑pocket costs for some follow‑up imaging. Testimony from a Susan G. Komen advocate who lost her mother to metastatic breast cancer (Mela Kronotis, SEG 609–652) and clinicians from the Rocky Mountain Oncology Society (Dr. Sami Diab, SEG 661–710) described patient stories and studies showing that cost barriers cause patients to delay recommended follow‑up imaging. Lauren Marquette of Susan G. Komen cited research that roughly one in five patients would skip recommended follow‑up imaging if they had to pay a deductible. Senators agreed to move SB 296 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
