Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed HB 4918, the Act Relative to Medically Necessary Breast Screenings and Exams for Equity and Early Detection, into law Nov. 18. The new law mandates that beginning in 2026, insurers must cover supplemental screening, diagnostic breast exams, digital breast tomosynthesis, MRIs and ultrasounds without patient cost-sharing. New requirements will apply to all individual and group health insurance policies, Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, and state employee health plans.
This initiative seeks to eliminate financial barriers for women, especially those with dense breast tissue or abnormalities, ensuring that necessary follow-up screenings are accessible to all. Governor Healey lauded the bill as a step toward saving lives through early detection, emphasizing the collaboration between legislators, advocates, and patients to make comprehensive cancer care more equitable and affordable. This legislation not only ensures access to essential diagnostics but also addresses health inequities, particularly among Black women, who are often diagnosed at later stages.
“The Massachusetts Radiological Society has actively advocated for years to improve access to indicated breast imaging to ensure early detection of breast cancer in all patients, and we can only do that if all women have access to the most advanced imaging technologies such as digital breast tomosynthesis and breast MRIs,” said Priscilla J. Slanetz, MD MPH, fellowship chair of the Massachusetts Radiological Society and a longtime advocate for this issue. “Our years of advocacy to eliminate these financial barriers to care included collaboration with lawmakers, healthcare providers, and other grassroots groups and we thank our state legislators and Governor Healey for their support.”
For more information on breast screening legislation, contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR® Senior Government Relations Director.