Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) has joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in reintroducing the Access to Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at eliminating out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic breast cancer testing. The legislation seeks to address a gap in current federal health coverage that affects thousands of women annually.
While federal law mandates no-cost coverage for routine breast cancer screenings, it does not extend to follow-up diagnostic tests such as MRIs, 3D mammograms, or ultrasounds. These diagnostic procedures are often necessary when abnormalities are found during routine screenings. According to health data, approximately 10% of women who undergo breast cancer screenings require further diagnostic testing.
Supporters of the legislation argue that out-of-pocket costs associated with diagnostic tests—estimated to range from $234 to $1,041—can be a barrier to timely diagnosis and treatment, particularly for uninsured or underinsured patients.
Senator Britt emphasized the potential health impact of the bill, stating that, “The ABCD Act would provide greater access to mammography so women can be diagnosed as soon as possible, giving them the widest variety of treatment options and the best chance to defeat this disease.”
Senator Shaheen echoed the call for affordability in health care, saying, “Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is difficult enough—families across the country shouldn’t have to also worry about whether they can even afford the tests necessary to reach such a diagnosis, which can sometimes be the difference between life and death.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women in the United States. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama notes that one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. In Alabama alone, an estimated 4,500 women received such a diagnosis in 2023. Nationally, the Susan G. Komen Foundation projects that more than 316,000 new cases will be identified in 2025.
Advocates for the legislation, including the Susan G. Komen Foundation, argue that the financial burden of diagnostic testing may delay care and impact outcomes. “For far too many, needed breast imaging and access to a timely diagnosis are still out of reach due to high out-of-pocket expenses,” said Molly Guthrie, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Susan G. Komen.
The ABCD Act is also cosponsored by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and has a companion bill in the House of Representatives, introduced by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
The bill is endorsed by major health advocacy organizations and is currently under consideration in both chambers of Congress.
