Oklahoma lawmakers advance bill requiring insurance coverage of diagnostic mammograms

OKLAHOMA (KFOR) – A invoice that may require insurance coverage firms to cowl diagnostic mammograms is one step nearer to turning into Oklahoma legislation.

The Senate accredited Home Invoice 3504 on Wednesday, with a 38-4 vote on the ground.

“Home Invoice 3504 requires a diagnostic mammogram be carried out when an abnormality within the breast has been detected,” mentioned Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-District 42, one of many invoice’s authors.

Sen. Stanley mentioned not all insurance coverage firms cowl diagnostic mammograms and a few ladies can’t afford the out-of-pocket prices. Nevertheless, diagnostic mammograms will be the lifesaving screening for a lot of.

“We all know for a incontrovertible fact that early detection saves lives.  Solely 16 p.c of ladies present process mammograms are directed to bear a diagnostic follow-up examination, however that data can actually imply the distinction between life and demise,” mentioned Sen. Stanley. “Moreover, the extra superior a most cancers is, the extra invasive and costly the therapy, so this may truly lower your expenses in the long term.”

If HB 3504 is handed into legislation, Oklahoma would be part of Texas and Arkansas, each having already handed related legal guidelines.

“We’re so happy to have the overwhelming help of the Home and the Senate within the effort to completely cowl diagnostic mammograms.  Early detection is the important thing to saving lives, and this laws removes a barrier to that,” mentioned Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-District 79, a Home writer of HB 3504. “I’m hopeful that this laws continues to search out success and finally its strategy to the governor’s desk. Ladies’s well being outcomes in our state will instantly and instantly profit.”