Pa. Senate vote sends cost-saving measure for cancer tests to governor's desk

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvanians are on the verge of seeing out-of-pocket costs disappear for certain genetic testing and supplemental screenings for breast cancer.

State representatives cast a unanimous vote in the House this week to move Senate Bill 8 to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro. That followed a unanimous vote in the state Senate last month advancing the legislation.

Shapiro has expressed his support of the measure and is expected to sign the bill into law in the near future.

"It will provide for women at high-risk, MRIs at no cost, no co-pay, no co-insurance, no deductible," Pat Halpin-Murphy, president of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, said.

An estimated 12,830 Pennsylvanians are anticipated to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. The group anticipates 1,870 will die from the disease in the commonwealth, the fifth-highest estimate in the nation.

MRI and ultrasound coverage under the existing Act 52 of 2020 would extend to women with a personal history of atypical breast histologies, personal or family history of breast cancer, genetic predisposition for breast cancer, prior therapeutic thoracic radiation therapy, extremely dense or heterogeneously dense breast tissue.

House Speaker Joanna McClinton said breast cancer is often a death sentence for women of color, which she attributed largely to late detection.

The death rate for Black women is 8 points higher than for Whites and 14 points higher than Hispanic women, American Cancer Society data shows.

"They will be able to get the help. They'll be able to get the MRI," McClinton said.

Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a breast cancer survivor, is the legislation's primary sponsor. Halpin Murphy credited Ward with using her own personal experience to benefit others.

Ward expressed gratitude to McClinton for swiftly steering the bill through the House, and to Halpin Murphy for her "tireless" advocacy. And, Ward noted the support of state Sen. Devlin Robinson, a primary co-sponsor, who has a BRCA gene mutation.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 can protect against certain cancers, however, mutations of either greatly raise the risk of developing cancer including prostate cancer among men.

"We did something good, the House and the Senate. We were able to do something together and do something very very positive for the families and the women of our great commonwealth," Ward said.