By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
In an emotional hearing Monday, the Idaho House Health and Welfare committee advanced a bill to mandate that insurers pay for advanced testing in some women with a high risk of breast cancer.
House Bill 134, sponsored by Rep. Brooke Green, D-Boise, and Rep. Dori Healey, R-Boise, applies to women with a heightened risk of breast cancer due to factors such as genetic predisposition to breast cancer, the presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, prior radiation therapy, or extremely dense breast tissue.
“Breast cancer is a devastating disease that affects far too many women here in Idaho,” said Healey. “For those that are high-risk, whether it’s due to genetic factors, family history, or other medical factors, early detection is critical.”
Physicians who specialize in breast cancer as well as women who have survived breast cancer testified Monday about the issues that patients face when they need additional testing, which can be extremely expensive, such as an MRI.
Healey said medical guidelines recommend high-risk women also get an MRI to see things that mammograms may miss, but they are not covered by health insurance.
Mammograms are covered by insurance, but multiple physicians said they know patients who tell them they cannot afford additional diagnostic testing that helps detect breast cancer before it advances or spreads. The bill would mandate coverage for either an MRI, a contrast mammogram or an ultrasound.
Green appointed her sister as a substitute during the first part of this legislative session due to a breast cancer diagnosis.
“One in three female Idahoans age 50 to 74 are not up to date on their breast cancer screening,” said Green. “Idaho ranks 50th among states for breast cancer screening.”
Idaho is one of 13 states that have not passed similar legislation, she said.
Green also shared her personal struggles with breast cancer diagnoses and treatment.
While other physicians spoke as breast cancer specialists, Dr. Heather Hammerstedt spoke to lawmakers about her experience as an emergency room physician who works the night shift.
“Unfortunately, I’ve diagnosed late-stage breast cancer at 3 am in the emergency department too many times to count,” Hammerstedt said. “Women in rural areas have 10 to 20% higher breast cancer mortality rate than women in urban areas due to later diagnoses. Rural woman are 25% less likely to get a mammogram than urban counterparts. They are certainly not, by statistics, likely to be able to get or afford $3,000 a year to get a breast MRI. So, I ask you, how many women in your districts are not getting breast cancer screenings that are absolutely necessary?”
Rep. Cornel Rasor, R-Sagle, and Rep. Lucas Cayler, R-Caldwell, voted against moving the bill forward.
“I stand opposed to anything that puts government mandates on private healthcare,” said Cayler. “Anything that grows the need to fund more tax dollars, I am a no vote on this bill.”
Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston, responded and challenged Cayler’s statement.
“For me, the fiscal responsibility is to save lives,” McCann said.
The bill now advances to the full House of Representatives.
Ruth Brown | Producer
Ruth Brown grew up in South Dakota and her first job out of college was covering the South Dakota Legislature. She’s since moved on to Idaho lawmakers. Brown spent 10 years working in print journalism, including newspapers such as the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press, where she’s covered everything from the correctional system to health care issues. She joined Idaho Reports in 2021 and looks forward to telling stories about how state policy can impact the lives of regular Idahoans.