mandate optional annual magnetic resonance imaging for people over 40 with dense breasts.

 

The purpose of this bill is to identify breast cancer sooner in its most common victims.

 

If cancer is detected too late, the risk of complications and death increases. People with dense breasts are 5 times

more likely to develop breast cancer, and over 70% of breast cancer fighters have dense tissue. Mammograms are much less

effective on dense tissue than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 15% of people with dense breasts receive a false

negative during a mammogram.

 

Dense breast tissue shall be defined as breast tissue that contains a larger proportion of fibrous and glandular tissue,

where breast cancer most commonly begins, than fatty tissue.

Mammograms shall be defined as an X-ray of the breasts to screen for breast cancer.

 

Most health insurance plans currently cover annual mammograms for people over 40. With this bill, individuals with dense

tissue would have the option to undergo a breast MRI, which costs approximately $950, instead of a mammogram, which

costs around $400, regardless of the increased cost. Insurance plans that only cover a percentage of the cost of a

mammogram must also cover the same percentage for a breast MRI.

 

Insurance plans that do not comply may face internal appeals and lawsuits.

 

This bill will take effect on July 1st, 2026.