The Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee has unanimously approved Senate Bill 88, a measure that would expand the state’s landmark breast cancer screening law to include no-cost diagnostic breast imaging for all patients, regardless of risk level.

Building on Act 1 of 2023—which made Pennsylvania the first state in the nation to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for supplemental breast screenings such as MRIs and ultrasounds for high-risk individuals—SB 88 would ensure that anyone who requires follow-up diagnostic imaging after an abnormal screening can access those tests without financial barriers. The legislation is sponsored by Sen. Frank Farry (R-6), Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), and is supported by the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition and the American Cancer Society.

“Preventive health care such as genetic testing and breast MRIs are indispensable for early cancer detection and treatment,” said Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48), highlighting the bill’s potential to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term costs.

If enacted, SB 88 would:

   •Provide no-cost coverage for diagnostic mammography, breast MRIs, and ultrasounds when an abnormality is detected on a screening.

   •Expand the number of supplemental screenings available at no cost.

   •Apply to both high-risk and average-risk individuals, aligning state law with federal guidance and broadening access to early detection methods.

Advocates argue that high out-of-pocket costs for follow-up imaging currently deter many Pennsylvanians from receiving timely care, potentially delaying cancer diagnoses until later, more dangerous stages. A recent study found that 1 in 5 patients would skip recommended follow-up imaging if they had to pay a deductible.

Pennsylvania led the nation with Act 1, and 26 other states have since followed suit with similar laws. However, Pennsylvania is now the only state among them that does not include diagnostic coverage, a gap SB 88 aims to close.

The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

If passed, it would mark another major step forward in the state’s ongoing efforts to remove financial barriers to life-saving breast cancer detection and care.