Landmark bill in fight against breast cancer headed to Gov. Shapiro’s desk

Landmark legislation is on its way to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk that represents a major step forward in the fight against breast cancer and is a sign that bipartisanship is possible in Pennsylvania’s divided General Assembly.

The House on Wednesday voted 200-0 to pass a bill that won unanimous support in the Senate last month to help detect and prevent breast and other cancers by removing the financial barrier for women at high risk for the disease by requiring insurance companies to cover genetic counseling and testing, starting in 2025.

“Pennsylvania will be the first state in the nation that provides these services to women and their families,” said Pat Halpin-Murphy, the founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. “Senate Bill 8 is a game changer. The reason is that it will provide for women at high-risk MRIs at no cost. No copay. No coinsurance. No deductible.”

The bill’s passage was celebrated at a joint news conference with Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, who sponsored the bill, and House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both chambers.

Both leaders commented on the satisfaction of seeing the GOP-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House produce legislation that Ward said serves as proof that “we can do big things” together.

The measure removes out-of-pocket costs associated with genetic testing and genetic counseling for people at high risk of the BRCA gene mutations, which predisposes them to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. It further provides for those at high risk of a breast cancer diagnosis to get an MRI, which can be more costly but is better able to detect breast cancer, and/or ultrasound at no cost.

The high-risk conditions covered by the bill include dense breast tissue, a personal history of breast cancer, family history of breast cancer, genetic predisposition and prior radiation therapy.

Ward, a breast cancer survivor, credited her own battle against the disease with bringing her attention to the financial barriers that stood in the way of others receiving screenings that can lead to an earlier diagnosis and less expensive and aggressive treatments.

“As I went through this journey, this breast cancer journey, I did see things that needed to be addressed,” Ward said.

Displaying a sense of humor about her diagnosis that led to this legislation, she said, “I always think what’s my job? What’s my job? Well, God said ‘you’re getting breast cancer, honey and you’re going to do this.’ I said I would have answered your email.”

For women of color, McClinton said breast cancer mortality rates are staggering, mostly due to late detection.

Once Shapiro signs the bill, McClinton said, “we’re going to see changes in the law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to quote our president pro tem, we did that. We should be very proud of this moment because we’re combating real-life challenges, addressing these health issues and making sure that our constituents regardless of where their insurance plan is from … will be able to get the help.”

McClinton added she is hopeful that it is the first of many times her House colleagues stand with senators to celebrate the passage of bills that “help people and improve their lives and create solutions for everyday problems.”

Some 14,000 women in Pennsylvania annually are diagnosed with breast cancer. If detected early, Halpin-Murphy said the five-year survival rate is 90%.