Stuart Bill Aims to Expand Access to Critical Breast Cancer Screenings

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is spearheading legislation that could help more women obtain an earlier breast cancer diagnosis by expanding insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings.

“My bill ensures that women in Illinois have access to the most appropriate and most effective means of breast cancer screenings available,” Stuart said. “For some women, mammograms can miss cancer in its earliest stages, when cancer is the most treatable. This legislation can save lives by guaranteeing insurance coverage for MRI screenings in women who may be at a higher risk for tumors missed by a standard mammogram screening.”

Under Senate Bill 314, more women would be able to receive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screenings in addition to a mammogram. While a mammogram is recommended for most women, research has shown that an additional MRI screening can increase detection for breast cancer for women with a strong family history of breast cancer. It does not serve as a replacement, but is considered an important complementary screening tool. Some insurance companies do not cover the breast MRI screenings, which has provided the need for Senate Bill 314.

“Breast cancer is something that affects our mothers, our sisters, our families and our friends,” Stuart said. “I believe everyone who has ever been affected would want to make sure that we are taking every step possible to increase early detection and save lives. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill out of the House.”

For more information, please contact Stuart’s constituent service office at 618-365-6650, or at RepKatieStuart@gmail.com.