Louisiana’s governor signs a bill into law expanding breast cancer screening coverage.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed Senate Bill (SB) 119, legislation expanding breast cancer screening coverage, into law. The law will expand coverage to include:
• Annual MRI starting at age 25 and annual mammography (digital breast tomosynthesis [DBT] preferred modality) starting at age 30 for women with a hereditary susceptibility from pathogenic mutation carrier status or prior chest wall radiation.
• Annual mammogram (DBT preferred modality) and access to supplemental imaging (MRI preferred modality) starting at age 35 upon recommendation by the physician if the woman has a predicted lifetime risk greater than 20% by any validated model published in peer-reviewed medical literature.
• Consideration given to supplemental imaging (breast ultrasound preferred modality) for women with increased breast density, if recommended by a physician.
• Annual mammography (DBT preferred modality) for any woman who is 40 or older.
• Access to annual supplemental imaging (MRI preferred modality) for women with a prior history of breast cancer below the age of 50 or with a prior history of breast cancer at any age and dense breast, if recommended by a physician.
The law permits the expanded coverage to be subject to the health plan’s utilization review using guidelines published in peer reviewed medical literature.
The law takes effect Jan. 1.
For more information, please contact Tina Getachew or Eugenia Brandt. To stay current on state legislative developments relevant to radiology, view our policy map.