Find it Early Act: Making Necessary Additional Breast Screenings More Accessible
Introduction to Breast Density
Breast density refers to the amount of fibrous and glandular tissue in a person’s breast compared to the amount of fatty tissue. Having dense breasts means that the majority of the breast tissue is fibrous and glandular, rather than fatty. This density makes it difficult for radiologists to distinguish between normal breast tissue and potential cancer on a mammogram. In addition, dense breast tissue cannot be found through a physical breast exam, only through a mammogram, which is one reason annual mammograms are so essential. In addition to making potential tumors harder to detect, having extremely dense breast tissue increases the risk of developing dense breast tissue by up to four times compared to individuals with less dense tissue. Because of this, additional imaging beyond a mammogram, such as an ultrasound or MRI, is often necessary for proper screening of. About 50% of all women and individuals assigned female at birth over the age of 40 have dense breasts. Despite how common it is, the importance of breast density has only started being discussed in the past few years.
Find It Early Act
One of the main boundaries to getting additional screening is the lack of insurance coverage or the out-of-pocket costs, even for those with insurance. These additional screenings are often vital in detecting breast cancer early, particularly in individuals that have dense breasts or other risk factors. Early detection of breast cancer saves lives, and expanding access to cancer screenings is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes. In New Jersey, all additional screenings, excluding 3D mammograms (Digital Breast Tomosynthesis), are required to be covered when an individual has dense breasts or other risk factors for breast cancer. However, they may still be subject to copay or deductibles based on an individual’s insurance plan. It’s also important to note that this state law doesn’t apply to everyone. Those with state-funded, national, or out-of-state plans may not have coverage for any additional breast imaging. And in states without similar legislation, coverage for extra screenings can be limited or nonexistent.
To address these disparities, the Find It Early Act was introduced. This bipartisan bill was reintroduced in 2023 by U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Brain Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roger Marshall (R-KS). Award-winning
journalist Katie Couric also played a key role in the bill’s reintroduction. The goal of the Find It Early Act is to ensure that all health insurance plans nationwide cover screening and diagnostic breast imaging with no out-of-pocket costs for those who have dense breasts or are at higher risk for breast cancer. If a healthcare provider determines that someone needs additional imaging, the bill ensures they can get the care they need, regardless of cost.
How to Help
Currently, the Find it Early Act has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate as a bill, but for it to become a law, it needs support from other congress members and senators. One of the most effective ways to help is contacting your federal representatives!
Here are some links on their contact information: Representatives (search by zip code on top right): https://www.house.gov/representatives Senators (click on your state): https://www.senate.gov/states/statesmap.htm
The goal of meeting with your representatives is to explain the importance of the bill and to ask if they will co-sponsor the bill, which is when a federal representative adds their name as a supporter of a bill. When you meet, whether by phone, in-person, or virtually, explain why this bill matters to you. You could: share personal experiences, talk about the facts of breast density, or reference the current laws in your state, in addition to explaining briefly about the Find It Early Act.
Why It Matters
Breast cancer is most treatable when caught early, but for many, that means needing additional imaging that may currently be too expensive or not covered. By helping bring this bill to the attention of lawmakers, you can play a vital role in removing cost as a barrier to early detection and ensuring everyone, no matter where they live or what insurance they have, gets adequate care.