A bill to help remove financial barriers to treating breast cancer has been sent to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office for her signature.
The governor has until April 7 to either approve or veto House Bill 27, which prohibits some insurance plans, renewed or started after 2023, from imposing cost-sharing for diagnostic breast exams. If the bill becomes law, many group health insurance policies cannot charge a deductible for breast exams.
“Early detection is critical in successfully treating breast cancer and ongoing screenings are vital for survivors,” state Rep. Christine Chandler, a sponsor of the bill, said in a press release, KRQE reports. "Yet too many New Mexicans are currently paying hundreds of their own hard-earned dollars per visit, or skipping recommended tests simply because they can’t afford them. I’m so happy to see this life-saving bill unanimously pass the legislature and I look forward to the Governor signing it into law.”
The limits, however, do not apply to high deductible plans with health savings accounts until the deductible has been met, according to an analysis of the bill.
The bill, also sponsored by state Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics, was initially passed by the House with a 58-0 vote on Feb. 25. It was then sent to the state Senate where it was approved 35-0 on March 9.
There a two main types of breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Invasive ductal carcinoma is where cancer cells begin in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Meanwhile, invasive lobular carcinoma is where cancer cells begin in the lobules and then spreads to nearby breast tissues.
These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.