10/30/2026
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Rebecca Raymer
Breast cancer awareness continues past October
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, I want to remind you that the importance of breast health does not end on October 31. While we often see pink ribbons and awareness campaigns and hear stories of survivors throughout the month of October, our commitment to early detection must continue every month of the year.
As one of the state's most commonly diagnosed and fatal cancers, breast cancer touches the lives of thousands of Kentucky families. Many of us have watched a loved one navigate a diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Others have experienced that journey themselves. While we cannot prevent every case of breast cancer, we can work to ensure Kentuckians have access to the screenings and examinations that can help detect the disease earlier.
That is why I sponsored HB 135 during the 2026 Regular Session. Although the bill did not pass last session, I remain committed to this issue and intend to file it again during the 2027 Regular Session. This legislation focuses on expanding insurance coverage for breast examinations and cancer screenings, reducing out-of-pocket costs and helping patients access the care they need.
One important part of this conversation is understanding breast density. Breast density refers to the amount of fibrous and glandular tissue compared with fatty tissue in the breast. It is determined through a mammogram and is important information for patients to understand. Dense breast tissue can make cancer more difficult to detect on a mammogram and is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Knowing your breast density can help you and your healthcare provider make more informed decisions about your screening options.
Breast density is classified into four categories. Categories C and D describe mixed dense and extremely dense breast tissue, respectively. For some individuals in these categories, additional imaging, such as breast ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be beneficial depending on their individual risk factors and medical history. Patients should discuss their results and appropriate screening options with their trusted healthcare providers.
Federal regulations now require mammography facilities to notify patients of their breast density and include that information in the report provided to their healthcare provider. These requirements took effect September 10, 2024. This is an important step toward ensuring patients have the information they need to make informed decisions about their health.
However, knowing your breast density and having access to the additional imaging that may be recommended are two different things. A patient may receive a mammogram report explaining that dense breast tissue can make cancer more difficult to detect and that additional imaging may be worth discussing with a provider. Yet, when that patient tries to obtain the recommended examination, insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses can become significant barriers. That is exactly the problem that we need to address.
The proposal I plan to file in January, would require annual mammogram coverage for individuals ages 40 to 49 and eliminate cost-sharing requirements for covered breast examinations, including mammograms, diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations. It would also require coverage of preventive breast cancer screenings for individuals at increased risk, those with dense breast tissue, and those whose healthcare providers recommend additional screening, without frequency limitations or cost-sharing requirements.
The proposal would extend these requirements to the state employee health plan and self-insured group health plans offered by state postsecondary education institutions. The proposed requirements would apply to covered policies and plans issued, renewed or delivered on or after January 1, 2027.
My goal is pretty straightforward: if a patient has a medical reason to pursue additional breast cancer screening, the cost of that examination should not be an obstacle to getting answers. We must continue working to close the gap between informing patients about their health risks and making appropriate screening options more accessible.
This bill proposal is about so much more than insurance language. It is about mothers who want to see their children grow up, daughters who want more years with their parents, spouses who want more time together and friends who deserve the opportunity to pursue the care their providers recommend. It is about giving Kentuckians the information and access they need to quality healthcare.
As with any healthcare legislation, we must carefully consider implementation and potential costs. We must also recognize the importance of removing financial barriers that can prevent people from pursuing recommended preventive care.
I will make one final push to raise awareness this October, by encouraging every Kentuckian to keep the conversation going, even after the pink ribbons come down. Schedule your recommended screenings, talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk factors, ask about your breast density, and encourage the people you love to do the same.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month may be ending, but our commitment to protecting the health of Kentuckians can’t stop here.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.
