WLWT: New Ohio breast cancer screening law now in effect

On Friday, Sept. 23, Ohio House Bill 371 went into effect, making it possible for more women in Ohio to have access to additional breast cancer screenings.

House Bill 371, passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this year, requires insurance companies to cover additional screenings for individuals who are at high risk for breast cancer or have dense breast tissue. The legislation was supported by the advocacy of survivors, UC researcher-physicians and state legislators.

WLWT News spoke with Ann Brown, MD, assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and a UC Health breast radiologist, and breast cancer survivor Michele Young on the importance of the bill going into effect.

"As a breast radiologist; I see firsthand how breast cancer can be masked by dense tissue," Brown told WLWT. "And we know that this is an area that we fall short in early detection is for patients with dense breasts, so for those patients to get additional screening may be life-saving."

Watch or read the WLWT story.

Patient advocate Michele Young was also recently featured in a NBC News/Today Show story. Watch the story here.

Featured photo at top of Ann Brown, MD, from left, Rep. Sedrick Denson, patient Michele Young, Mary Mahoney, MD, and Rep. Jean Schmidt at a press conference celebrating the passage of House Bill 371. Photo/UC Health.