Health insurers in Kansas will be required to cover 3D mammograms starting next year, making it at least the eighth state in the U.S. to enact the policy, the Kansas City Star reported this month.
According to the Star, the move has nothing to do with the Kansas Legislature, which “hasn’t touched the issue.” Instead, the Kansas Insurance Department used its regulatory authority to implement the change.
Although radiologists have come to a general consensus that 3D mammography, also known as digital breast tomography, can increase breast cancer detection rates and minimize false positives, especially for women with dense breasts, the National Cancer Institute and USPSTF haven’t made a formal recommendation for lack of evidence.
Still, all Kansas plans will have to cover the mammograms starting in 2019—something assistant insurance commissioner Clark Shultz said will provide physicians with “great opportunities” to get ahead of cancer diagnoses.
“This is a win-win for both the patient and the physician,” he told the Star. “It is taking advantage of modern healthcare technology at no additional cost to the patient.”
Read the Star’s full story at the link below.
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.