A health bill by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia, has been unanimously approved by the Assembly. The measure requires health insurers to provide information to women about when they should start being screened for breast cancer. The press release continues ...
“There has been a lot of confusion in recent years over when a woman should and shouldn’t begin receiving these screenings,” explained Assemblymember Portantino. “This measure cuts through that confusion and gives patients and doctors maximum flexibility. It’s good for the patient and in the long run, good for the insurance provider. Early detection helps save lives and certainly saves healthcare dollars.”
AB 137 also eliminates outdated guidelines to the Insurance Code that limits coverage for mammograms in younger women. Instead of basing the need for mammograms only on a woman’s age, AB 137 allows doctors to order diagnostic tests based on a more complete list of risk factors that are part of today’s medical science. The existing code requiring insurers to provide a baseline mammogram beginning at age 35, is now outdated. Many women who are at “high risk” for breast cancer often develop cancer in their 20’s and 30’s and should be screened at an earlier age. AB 137 will allow doctors more control in when to order this diagnostic test.
AB 137 now moves to the state Senate for consideration later this session.
- Brad Haugaard
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