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Committee advances bill to cover diagnostic breast exams like screenings to reduce patient cost barriers
Summary
Senate Bill 290 would require insurers to treat diagnostic breast exams—the follow‑up to a screening—like free ACA screenings, reducing out‑of‑pocket costs that can prevent women from obtaining recommended diagnostic care. The committee passed the bill with the sponsor's technical edits.
Senate Bill 290, presented to the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee by Senator Lading, would require insurers to cover diagnostic breast exams that follow a screening in the same manner as the initial screening covered under the Affordable Care Act. The sponsor said diagnostic exams can cost several hundred to more than $1,000, and those costs deter some women from receiving recommended follow‑up care.
Senator Lading said the bill makes diagnostic exams subject to the same coverage treatment as the initial screening, addressing a gap that causes patients to skip necessary diagnostics. The sponsor also noted two technical edits requested by stakeholders: replacing the word "treating" with "evaluating" on page 2, line 2, and expanding family‑history language to include any first‑ or second‑degree female relative at CARTI's request.
Committee members had no further questions, and the committee moved a 'do pass' motion with the amendment already engrossed. The committee approved SB 290 and the sponsor thanked members for their support.
The bill advances out of committee and will proceed to the next legislative step.
