Diagnostic Breast Imaging Coverage Bill "Tabled" by House Commerce and Energy Committee
Thanks to all of our great advocates who took speedy action yesterday to help support our diagnostic breast imaging coverage bill. Unfortunately, HR 1243,
and a group of similar insurance benefits-related bills, were all "tabled" by the Commerce and Energy Committee, thus ending consideration for this General Assembly Session.
While the details are complicated (dealing with prohibiting additions to Virginia's essential health benefits package), our bill and the others were in conflict with another VA state law passed in 2020, and therefore had to be tabled. Our bill patron, Delegate McQuinn was as surprised and disappointed by this outcome as we were. Her office is investigating other ways to move forward- i.e. requesting a formal study on this issue as a first step etc. We will keep you posted.
What's Next?
VBCF knows that expensive out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic imaging (diagnostic mammography, ultrasound, and MRI) can be a huge barrier to timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and needs to be addressed. We will continue our work on this important issue and explore all options for how to tackle this problem - and we can still use your help.
Please share your story with VBCF. Have you had to pay expensive out-of-pocket costs for a follow-up mammogram, ultrasound, or other diagnostic procedure? Did you choose to postpone the procedure or struggle to cover the cost? We want to hear about your experience.
Click here or contact Kirsta Millar, Policy Manager at kirsta@vbcf.org or 804-285-1200 ext. 203.
Thank you!
