The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Arizona is prioritizing closing gaps in breast cancer care with the passage of Senate Bill 1165 this past June. Introduced by Sen. Hildy Angius and slated to take effect next year, this bipartisan legislation would make Arizona the latest of more than 30 states working to eliminate high out-of-pocket expenses for necessary breast imaging.
This change provides meaningful financial relief for patients with state-regulated health plans by helping to reduce barriers to timely access to diagnosis and, ultimately, care. Many Americans assume these protections already exist nationwide under current law, but that is not the case. Arizona's progress underscores the need for federal action to ensure all patients receive consistent, affordable access to breast cancer screening.
If a screening mammogram comes back abnormal, the patient will need diagnostic breast imaging, which is necessary to either rule out breast cancer or indicate the need for a biopsy. It is a key step in the breast cancer screening and detection process. In addition, patients who have a higher risk of developing breast cancer due to family history, dense breast tissue or genetic mutations may require supplemental imaging instead of, or in addition to, a screening mammogram as part of their preventive screening.
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For years, a narrow definition of "preventive care" has not applied to all medically necessary breast imaging, leaving patients with bills totaling hundreds ― or even thousands ― of dollars out of pocket and leaving others to delay or forego this imaging altogether.
Arizona's action to expand access to screening matters. Not only for patients here at home, but as a model for the rest of the country.
Nationwide, many patients still face serious challenges when they need breast imaging beyond their initial screening mammogram, including those in Arizona with federally regulated health plans. Though the federal government has attempted to close gaps with HRSA guidance on supplemental coverage, significant barriers remain.
Fortunately, there is a federal solution. The Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act (S.1500/H.R. 3037) is bipartisan, bicameral legislation reintroduced last year that would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging for all people with private insurance coverage.
By reducing cost barriers, the ABCD Act would expand access for people who often experience worse breast cancer outcomes: people who live in rural areas, people with lower incomes and Black and Hispanic women.
Arizona is proving that patient-centered policy can save lives and reduce costs, while much of the country still relies on outdated insurance rules that force patients to choose between life-saving care and paying their bills. It's time for Congress to follow Arizona's lead and make affordable comprehensive breast cancer screening a priority.
Breast cancer doesn't wait. More than 7,000 Arizonans are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 1,000 people will die from the disease in 2026 alone ― a reminder of how urgently patients need timely access to care.
Arizona has shown what's possible ― now Congress must act to ensure lifesaving breast cancer care is accessible to everyone nationwide.
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Molly Guthrie is vice president of policy and advocacy at Susan G. Komen and leads the Alliance for Breast Cancer Policy. Ashley Plum is executive director of Check for a Lump, an Arizona-based nonprofit and a member of the Alliance for Breast Cancer Policy.
