University of Cincinnati Health physicians, advocates and Ohio state representatives gathered Friday to celebrate the passage of a state bill geared toward enhancing breast cancer detection. Ohio House Bill 371, sponsored by representatives Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) and Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati), was passed by the House and Senate earlier this month."This bill will require insurance companies to cover additional screenings for individuals who are at high risk for breast cancer or have dense breast tissue," Schmidt said.The bill was the product of a lot of collaboration between UC Health physicians, advocates, survivors and state representatives. "They wrote the bill," Schmidt said, referring to the physicians. "We said 'what do you want, how do we make this work?'"One cancer survivor helped drive the effort. "Michele Young led us down a long journey," Denson said. "I remember her coming to me and telling me that we have an opportunity to save lives."The bill was deeply personal for Young. " promised that if I did not make it here today, and the chances were against me, they would pass this bill so that what happened to me would never happen to any other woman," Young said. She explained her mammogram screenings likely missed detecting breast cancer for six years due to dense breast tissue. "We've just changed the odds for women in Ohio," Young said. "And this is only the start."Schmidt said she expects the governor to sign the bill into law soon in a formal signing ceremony.
University of Cincinnati Health physicians, advocates and Ohio state representatives gathered Friday to celebrate the passage of a state bill geared toward enhancing breast cancer detection.
Ohio House Bill 371, sponsored by representatives Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) and Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati), was passed by the House and Senate earlier this month.
"This bill will require insurance companies to cover additional screenings for individuals who are at high risk for breast cancer or have dense breast tissue," Schmidt said.
The bill was the product of a lot of collaboration between UC Health physicians, advocates, survivors and state representatives.
"They wrote the bill," Schmidt said, referring to the physicians. "We said 'what do you want, how do we make this work?'"
One cancer survivor helped drive the effort.
"Michele Young led us down a long journey," Denson said. "I remember her coming to me and telling me that we have an opportunity to save lives."
The bill was deeply personal for Young.
"[Representatives Schmidt and Denson] promised that if I did not make it here today, and the chances were against me, they would pass this bill so that what happened to me would never happen to any other woman," Young said.
She explained her mammogram screenings likely missed detecting breast cancer for six years due to dense breast tissue.
"We've just changed the odds for women in Ohio," Young said. "And this is only the start."
Schmidt said she expects the governor to sign the bill into law soon in a formal signing ceremony.
Source link
