Find It Early Act, H.R. 3086

Check for a Lump, along with more than 40 organizations, in support of the Find It Early Act , H.R. 3086 . This legislation would ensure that all health insurance plans cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging, including mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI's with no patient cost-sharing. The statement has been shared with the Find It Early Act sponsors, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) . If you would like further background please check out Reps. DeLauro and Fitzpatrick’s introduction release . Find It Early Act (HR 3086) Supporting Organizations Beginning Sept 2024, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will require that women be informed after their mammograms whether their breasts are “dense” or “not dense.” Women with dense breasts or at higher risk of breast cancer (e.g., inherited genetic variations, family/personal history of cancer, or other reason), benefit from increased cancer detection with supplemental screenings such as ultrasound or MRI in addition to their mammogram. Unfortunately, insurance coverage for those tests is not assured and can vary from state to state and insurer to insurer. We are pleased to support the introduction of the Find It Early Act (HR 3086) introduced by Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Brian Fitzpatrick. The legislation would ensure that all insurance programs cover additional breast imaging at no cost to the patient, close loopholes inherent in individual state insurance laws, and cover both private and public plans including TRICARE and VHA. This law would make possible the earliest stage breast cancer diagnosis possible, when breast cancer is most treatable and survivable. It is too often the case that women with dense breasts or who are at higher risk are informed they would benefit from additional breast screening, then discover the onus is on them to navigate getting approvals from their insurance provider. This can kick off a frustrating cycle of phone calls, correspondence, denials, appeals and more phone calls. Some of these women, who would clearly benefit from screening in addition to their mammogram, just give up. The Find it Early Act will help ensure that when a woman is told that her mammogram might not be enough – she will not have to struggle to pay for additional imaging, or choose between household bills and a recommended test, or spread the cost of a test over one year and skip the next year because the cost of the exam has strained her budget. We strongly support this timely legislation, which will provide life-saving examinations for the many American women who need them. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians American College of Radiology American College of Surgeons American Society of Breast Surgeons American Society of Plastic Surgeons American Society of Radiologic Technologists AHRA – The Association for Medical Imaging Management Black Women’s Health Imperative Breast Cancer Research Foundation Breast Care for Washington Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer Bright Pink Check for a Lump Dana Farber Cancer Institute DenseBreast-info, Inc. Elizabeth Wende Breast Care FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered Fox Chase Cancer Center General Federation of Women’s Clubs of North Carolina Susan G. Komen Living Beyond Breast Cancer Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance Men Supporting Women With Cancer National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health National Black Nurses Association National Consortium of Breast Centers National Hispanic Medical Association National Medical Association National Women’s Health Network NorthShore University HealthSystem / Teaching Affiliate of the University of Chicago PA Breast Cancer Coalition Prevent Cancer Foundation Radiology Business Management Association Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Service Women’s Action Network Sharsharet Society of Breast Imaging Tigerlily Foundation USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Woman’s Club of Raleigh With your support we are confident Reps. DeLauro and Fitzpatrick will be able to advance H.R. 3086 through the House Energy and Commerce Committee soon. Thank you for your time and attention to this important issue.