OPPOSE: House Bill 297 would drive millions of dollars in premium escalation by imposing a new government mandate on businesses, workers, and taxpayers.
The legislation mandates that individuals and businesses, through their insurance premiums, pay for advanced diagnostic imaging tests such as MRIs and breast ultrasounds at the same $0 cost-share level as a preventive screening mammography. Patients should always get the care they need, and these screenings are already covered at standard benefit levels. HB297 goes against medical recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Taskforce, the American Cancer Society, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. It could encourage overuse and misuse as tests such as MRIs and diagnostic breast ultrasounds are more expensive for patients – and more profitable for hospital systems.