Landmark Bipartisan Breast Cancer Law Signed By Gov. Shapiro

HARRISBURG, PA— Gov. Josh Shapiro Monday signed Senate Bill 8 into law, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive breast cancer screening law in the nation.

The law calls for removing out-of-pocket costs and mandating 100 percent coverage for preventative breast cancer screenings for high-risk patients.

This year, more than 13,000 Pennsylvania women will hear those words as they are diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.

“I am proud to sign the first bill of my administration,” Shapiro said on the steps of the Capitol here. “Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a bill to save lives.”

The bill was sponsored by Republican state Senators Senator Tracy Pennycuick, a western Montgomery County Republican; Devlin Robinson, an Allegheny County Republican; and Kim Ward, Westmoreland County Republican.

Shapiro said this bill is the first of its kind in the nation.

Pennycuick said after the bill passed the Senate that more women will have the opportunity to receive these lifesaving procedures.”

“Plain and simple, early detection saves lives,” she said.

State Rep. Melissa Shusterman said she is proud to stand with the governor as he signs his first bill into law.

"This bill will save lives by eliminating testing costs for those most at risk for breast cancer," Shusterman, a Chester County Democrat, said.

The law eliminates out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer-related genetic testing and counseling as well as supplemental screening such as breast MRI and ultrasound for women at high-risk.

Shapiro said the insurance companies will no longer be able to deny payments for breast cancer surgeries.

“I know first-hand the importance of genetic testing and supplemental screenings," Ward said. In fact, if I had more testing and screening options been covered by insurance when I was diagnosed, my breast cancer may have been caught sooner or I may have considered a different treatment option.”