ACR backs bill to extend mammo screening coverage

The American College of Radiology (ACR) is putting its weight behind a bill that would extend the requirement that insurance companies cover mammography screening for women ages 40 to 50.

Currently, private payors are required to cover mammography until 2017 under a moratorium included as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Without the moratorium, private payors would not be required to cover annual mammography screening starting at age 40 without co-payments, because such screening is not recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

But provisions in S 3040 -- the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act -- would extend the moratorium until 2019. If the provision fails and the USPSTF guidelines are implemented, millions of women in the U.S. may lose covered access to regular mammograms, the ACR warned in a statement.

"We would hope that even the most vocal critic of this screening would agree that women should be able to choose for themselves when to be tested and to have that decision respected in terms of covered access," said Dr. Geraldine McGinty, vice chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors.

The ACR is strongly urging the House of Representatives and Senate to pass the proposed legislation, she added.