New Hampshire to consider legislation on breast cancer imaging

Breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen is lauding the introduction of legislation in New Hampshire that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic imaging exams for the disease.

HB 1296, recently introduced by State Representative Catherine Rombeau (D-Bedford), would eliminate patient out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging, including MRIs, ultrasounds, and diagnostic mammograms.

While no-cost mammograms are currently available to women, when a mammogram reveals an abnormality, diagnostic and supplemental imaging is necessary to give medical providers a closer look at the abnormality and determine if a biopsy is needed. High out-of-pocket costs for these follow-up imaging exams deter many individuals from getting them and as a result, breast cancer can be diagnosed at a later stage, Komen said.