MSN: Ohio legislation aims to cover dense breast screening
UC expert says current process doesn't guarantee insurance coverage, change needed
Mammogram screenings are recommended to detect early signs of breast cancer, but around 40% of women have dense breast tissue that can make cancer harder to detect through mammography.
Those with dense breast tissue can seek out tomosynthesis, an ultrasound or MRI to find any potential breast cancers, but the state of Ohio currently only requires health care providers to inform patients that their dense breast tissue "could hide abnormalities" and is "relatively normal."
A new proposed legislation, House Bill 371, would alter the required text to clarify that dense breast tissue may make it harder to find cancer through mammography and directly refer patients to seek additional screening.
The bill would also require health insurance companies to cover MRI or ultrasound screenings for patients with dense breast tissue or a family history of breast cancer.
Annie Brown, MD, assistant professor of radiology in the College of Medicine and a UC Health breast radiologist, told MSN that even in cases where insurance companies currently cover dense breast screening, like with high-risk patients, pre-authorization is required and actual coverage is not guaranteed for all patients. This may lead to patients declining the additional screenings due to concern of out-of-pocket costs.
Featured photo at top of breast cancer cells courtesy of the National Cancer Institute.
Related Stories
CDC issues new guidelines to help manage potential IUD pain
September 18, 2024
Some women have taken to social media with their experiences of pain when having an intrauterine device, or IUD, inserted. Now the Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines to urge health care providers to address the problem. Priya Gursahaney, MD, associate professor in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, recently appeared on Cincinnati Edition on WVXU to discuss the role that IUDs play in reproductive health care.
$300K grant awarded to study airborne MRSA in health care...
September 18, 2024
University of Cincinnati researchers are working to minimize health care workers' exposure to infectious diseases. An Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation grant will fund a study on the presence of MRSA in the air in hospital settings.
Biomedical engineering student contributes to cancer research
September 18, 2024
University of Cincinnati PhD student Maulee Sheth has been named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science. A biomedical engineering student, she works in the Esfandiari lab on cancer tumor microenvironment research to better understand the disease. Through her time here, she has collaborated with researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and the UC College of Medicine.