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General Assembly approves of bill aimed at improving breast cancer detection

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A bill that would add digital mammography and breast tomosynthesis to the definition of low-dose mammography screening has been given final approval by the General Assembly and awaits the Governor’s signature to become law.

Rep. Dean Plocher’s HB 1252 would also require reimbursement rates to accurately reflect the resource costs specific to each modality and modifies coverage for mammograms to every year for women age 40 and over.

The House approved the legislation in a 145-2 vote in April and the Senate gave final approval May 9 in a 32-1 vote.

“I was grateful for the chance to introduce this life-saving, cost-saving bill. The success rates for breast tomosynthesis (3D) verses traditional x-rays are encouraging, and I believe this legislation will truly act to improve healthcare for women and men and serve as a life-saving measure,” said Plocher.

Plocher noted that 3D imagery offers better cancer detection rates; thus helping save lives while promoting more proactive and less costly treatment methods. He added that 3D imagery shows 30 percent better cancer detection, with 41 percent more invasive cancers detected along with 15 percent fewer false positives.