MADISON – Rep. Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) joined her legislative colleagues today in introducing “Gail’s Law,” a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding access to life-saving breast cancer screenings for Wisconsin women and reducing long-term health care costs:
“Whether it is yourself, a mother or grandmother, a daughter, a neighbor, friend or co-worker – we have all felt the heartbreak that comes with hearing the words ‘breast cancer’ at one time or another,” Nedweski said. “The suffering of the women in our lives and their families could be reduced with increased access to effective screening because early detection dramatically increases survival rates.”
Currently, Wisconsin law requires insurance coverage for an initial mammogram but does not require coverage for follow-up screenings, including those needed due to dense breast tissue or abnormal results. Gail’s Law would require insurers to cover supplemental breast screening exams for individuals at increased risk. Roughly 50% of women have dense breast tissue, which makes them four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer, as tumors are often more difficult to detect with standard mammograms. Due to the insurance coverage gaps, many women currently face out-of-pocket costs upwards of $1000 for supplemental imaging.
“The financial burden of additional screening costs may discourage women from pursuing critical diagnostic tests,” Nedweski said. “This bill would bring the current screening law in line with the capabilities of modern technology to not only serve more women effectively, but to also save resources that would otherwise be required to provide long-term treatment. Gail’s Law is not only cost-saving, it is also life-saving.”
Studies show that prioritizing early detection of breast cancer costs 60% less than late-stage treatment. Patients who catch their breast cancer early face a 99% survival rate compared to 30% survival once the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. If passed, Wisconsin would join 28 other states with diagnostic/supplemental breast cancer screening laws.
Rep. Nedweski represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes the Town and Village of Bloomfield, Village of Bristol, Town of Brighton, Village of Genoa City, portions of Kenosha, portions of Lake Geneva, Village of Paddock Lake, Town of Paris, Village of Pleasant Prairie, Town of Randall, Village of Salem Lakes, Village of Twin Lakes, and the Town of Wheatland.
