Bipartisan Bill Reintroduced to Eliminate Cost Barriers for Supplemental Breast Imaging
Lawmakers in both the U.S. House and Senate have reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would require health insurers to cover supplemental breast imaging services—such as MRI and ultrasound—without patient cost-sharingnationwide.
Currently, federal law mandates coverage of annual screening mammograms, but follow-up imaging often necessary for women with dense breast tissue or inconclusive results is not uniformly covered. The proposed legislation, titled the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act, aims to address this disparity by removing financial barriers that may prevent women from receiving timely diagnostic care.
Leading the House version of the bill are Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), all co-chairs of the House Cancer Caucus. In the Senate, the effort is being spearheaded by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Katie Britt (R-AL), who reintroduced the bill on April 28.
“Access to lifesaving diagnostic testing should never depend on a person’s ability to pay,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “When it comes to breast cancer, early diagnosis is critical—and financial barriers can be deadly.”
The initiative has received strong backing from Susan G. Komen, a leading breast cancer advocacy group. Research commissioned by Komen has shown that women can incur out-of-pocket costs ranging from $234 for a follow-up mammogram to over $1,000 for a breast MRI. These additional expenses disproportionately affect women at high risk, those with dense breast tissue, or individuals requiring clarification after abnormal screenings. A study published in Radiology reported that 1 in 5 women opt out of necessary follow-up tests due to these costs.
“This legislation will help make timely access to needed imaging more affordable so that breast cancers are caught early, and more lives can be saved,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Komen.
Komen is actively lobbying for the bill, with more than 200 advocates on Capitol Hill this week. In addition to the legislation, they are also urging Congress to reinstate funding for the Department of Defense’s Breast Cancer Research Program and bolster financial support for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.
This is not the first time the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act—also known informally as the ABCD Act—has been introduced. It was previously brought to Congress in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023, but failed to advance. In the absence of federal legislation, roughly 30 states have passed their own laws requiring insurers to cover supplemental imaging. Arkansas was the most recent, passing its version earlier this month.
Industry Support and Patient Impact
On April 30, the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) announced its formal support for the bill. According to a 2024 survey commissioned by RBMA’s Radiology Patient Action Network (RPAN), approximately 70% of women aged 65 and older reported undergoing regular mammograms within the past three years. However, 30% cited financial limitations as a reason for missed screenings, and 10% reported forgoing additional imaging due to out-of-pocket costs.
“Early detection is crucial for breast cancer outcomes, and financial barriers pose a direct threat to women's lives,” said Linda Wilgus, Co-Executive Director of RBMA. “We support the bipartisan Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis Act that aims to eliminate these barriers, ensuring that all women, regardless of their financial situation, can access the care they need.”
Wilgus also noted that RPAN has played a key role in promoting similar legislation at the state level, reinforcing its commitment to equitable access to breast imaging services nationwide.