A NEW LAW TAKING EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST, 2024 AIMS TO SAVE MORE LIVES THROUGH EARLY BREAST CANCER DETECTION.
[SPOKANE, WA, October 5, 2023] Beginning on January 1st, 2024, patients who need medically necessary breast imaging will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket for those exams. The new law, recently passed by the Washington State Legislature eliminates cost-sharing for patients, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for those services.
Exams covered under the new law include:
Follow-up breast imaging after an abnormal screening exam.
Imaging needed because a patient has detected a breast lump, has breast pain, or other symptoms.
Breast ultrasound or MRI exams when a patient is at high-risk for breast cancer.
"Currently, screening mammograms are cost-free to patients under the Affordable Care Act, because they’re considered preventive exams. For patients who need additional follow-up when something suspicious or abnormal has been detected we recommend additional follow-up exams, referred to as diagnostic imaging," said Dr. Amy Henkel, a breast imaging specialist with Inland Imaging.
“Under the current system, additional diagnostic imaging can be costly, causing many patients to put them off to avoid those expenses, delaying potential diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. For many women, that means finding the cancer later, when it may be more serious and much harder to treat. We say, ‘early detection saves lives’ because it really does and the data proves it,” said Inland Imaging’s Dr. Henkel. “The new law makes it easier for patients to get follow-up coverage and ultimately, we believe it will save more lives.
NOTE: These changes in the law apply to patients covered by commercial health insurance plans. These benefits and changes in coverage may not apply to some of those covered by self-insured plans through their employers.
When you have questions about your health plan benefits and coverage, consult with your health insurance provider or the benefits administrator at your place of employment.