Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt is advocating for legislation that would remove out-of-pocket expenses for certain breast cancer screenings.
Schmidt testified Monday in support of Senate Bill 409, which would require insurance plans to fully cover supplemental and diagnostic detection services, including MRIs, ultrasounds, and diagnostic mammograms.
These additional tests are often recommended when standard mammograms produce inconclusive results due to abnormalities or dense breast tissue—a condition affecting nearly half of women over 40.
A breast cancer survivor herself, Schmidt emphasized that early detection saved her life. She argued that Kansans should not face higher costs when follow-up screenings are medically necessary.
The bill aims to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for insurance plans that already cover these imaging services, ensuring patients pay nothing out of pocket for essential tests.
The Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance held a hearing on the measure Monday, ahead of the Susan G. Komen Day of Action at the state Capitol on Wednesday, where Schmidt is expected to speak.
