ADVOCATE LEGISLATION

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Public policy directly shapes access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care. Breast Cancer Health Coalition PAC (BCHC) focuses its advocacy on supporting federal legislation that removes insurance barriers, modernizes coverage standards, and ensures timely access to care for individuals affected by breast cancer.

While millions of women are able to receive no-cost screening mammograms under the Affordable Care Act, many face significant out-of-pocket expenses when follow-up diagnostic imaging is required. These costs can arise before a diagnosis is even confirmed, creating financial barriers at a critical moment.
This legislation seeks to eliminate cost-sharing for medically necessary diagnostic imaging by preventing insurers from imposing additional charges for follow-up exams related to abnormal screening results.

Advances in cancer treatment have led to the development of effective oral anti-cancer therapies. However, insurance coverage policies have not consistently adapted to these innovations, often resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs for oral medications compared to intravenous treatments.
This legislation aims to ensure parity in insurance coverage so individuals diagnosed with breast cancer can access prescribed anti-cancer therapies—whether oral or intravenous—without facing disproportionate financial burdens.

More than 155,000 women and men in the United States are living with metastatic breast cancer. Although treatments exist, the condition is not curable, making timely access to care essential.
Current regulations impose waiting periods for Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare eligibility that can delay access to critical support. This legislation proposes waiving those waiting periods to allow individuals with metastatic breast cancer to receive benefits and care without unnecessary delay.

This legislation seeks to protect access to annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40 without cost-sharing and to ensure that women veterans receiving care through the Veterans Health Administration are not subject to additional barriers.
It also addresses the potential impact of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations that could restrict coverage for mammograms, which insurers often use as a basis for determining benefits. Without legislative action, millions of women could face reduced access to preventive screening services.