U.S. Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele (D-HI 2nd District) is asking his colleagues in Congress to make all breast cancer diagnostic tests more affordable and accessible.
Diagnostic tests required following an initial screening are rarely covered by insurance and can cost an average of $250, a recent release from Kahele’s office said. Those tests can include breast ultrasounds.
“We know that early detection of breast cancer saves lives,” Kahele said in the release. “Congress must do everything in its power to eliminate barriers to care like costly copays, deductibles, and additional out-of-pocket expenses that are often associated with breast cancer diagnostic exams. No one should be denied a potentially life-saving test simply because it is not affordable.”
The release said Kahele supports the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnostics Act of 2021. It requires insurance companies to cover breast cancer diagnosis in the same way screenings are covered. The bill prohibits private health insurance plans from imposing higher cost-sharing requirements on breast cancer diagnostic examinations than initial breast cancer screening examinations. Diagnostic examinations are generally required after an initial screening detects an abnormality and typically require additional mammogram images, such as an ultrasound.
“Many of us have a family member, close friend or know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer,” Kahele said. “Some of us have lost loved ones to this disease. This commonsense legislation could be the key to protecting those we love most.”
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center was quoted in the release. An average of 1,233 women are diagnosed annually with invasive breast cancer in Hawaii, while another 308 are diagnosed with in situ breast cancer or early-stage tumors that have not invaded surrounding tissue. Also, breast cancer incidence is higher among Japanese and Native Hawaiian women compared to Chinese, Filipino, White, other Asian, and women of other races/ethnic groups. Other Asian women had lower incidence than Native Hawaiian, Japanese, White, and women of other race/ethnic groups. On average,155 women die of breast cancer each year in Hawaii.
The yearly number of incidents of invasive breast cancer in the state increased by nearly 1.7% annually over the last decade.
The good news is that most breast cancers (76%) are diagnosed at early stages (in situ or localized), while 22% are diagnosed at advanced stages.