SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Women across Illinois may soon have assurance that preventative screenings will be covered in their insurance plans under legislation offered by state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, which advances in committee today.
"Research has consistently shown that early detection is the key to treating breast cancer," Smiddy said. "The opportunity to detect and fight breast cancer in its early stages should be available to every woman in Illinois."
House Bill 3673 requires that every insurance plan in Illinois include preventative breast cancer screening for women 35 years and older. The bill mandates that the screening centers be certified by the American college of Radiology. For his work attempting to expand breast cancer screening, Smiddy was honored by the Metropolitan Breast Cancer Task Force as the Legislator of the Year earlier this month.
"As a husband to a breast cancer survivor, I know that screenings can save lives and early detection can cut some of the high costs of invasive treatments at later stages of cancer," Smiddy said. "I'm honored to be recognized by the Task Force, and I'll continue to work to expand healthcare for Illinoisans and help allow everyone to get the preventative medicine they deserve."
House Bill 3673 passed the House Human Services committee on March 25.
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