Despite significant progress in the fight against breast cancer over the past four decades, the disease continues to be devastating. This year alone, Susan G. Komen estimates that more than 300,000 women in the United States will likely be diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, and more than 43,000 women and men will lose their lives to it.
While early detection helps save lives and reduce treatment costs, many patients face financial barriers that prevent them from accessing needed diagnostic and supplemental imaging. Under the Affordable Care Act, payers were required to provide no-copay coverage for screening mammography. But about 10% of breast screening exams require follow-up tests such as MRI or ultrasound, which are often not covered and create a financial burden on patients.
At the center of this conversation is the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, which seeks to eliminate cost-sharing for diagnostic breast imaging and ensure that patients can follow up with abnormal results without fear of financial hardship. The bill was introduced earlier this year but is still in the early procedural stages. Just like with breast cancer screening, timing is everything.
What’s next for ABCD Act? What are the biggest shortcomings in access to early detection? How can Congress remove financial barriers to timely diagnostic imaging? How can women, families, and communities better advocate for the care they need? And is there a path toward affordable, equitable access to breast cancer screening?
Join The Hill as we convene lawmakers, physicians, patients and their advocates to answer all these questions and more.
The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Watch live in the video player above.
