23.3044.01000
Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4009
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Mathern, Hogan
Representatives Conmy, Dobervich, Karls, Weisz
1 A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying whether
2 health insurance should provide coverage for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations
3 without imposing cost-sharing requirements.
4 WHEREAS, diagnostic imaging is an essential tool in the screening and diagnosis of breast
5 cancer; and
6 WHEREAS, approximately 2 percent of patients undergoing a screening mammogram are
7 referred by their radiologist for diagnostic testing; and
8 WHEREAS, screening mammograms are cost-free under the federal Affordable Care Act,
9 cost-sharing applies to diagnostic imaging procedures under private insurance plans, ranging in
10 cost from the hundreds to the thousands of dollars per procedure; and
11 WHEREAS, cost is the primary reason patients skip diagnostic testing and do not follow up
12 after their initial screening mammogram; and
13 WHEREAS, the current coverage disparity is most evident by income level and race, with
14 lower and middle-income patients, insured but unable to pay higher costs for additional testing,
15 often forgoing testing and potential treatment until cancer has progressed to a more advanced
16 stage; and
17 WHEREAS, early detection of breast cancer leads to the greatest chance of survivability;
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE
19 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
20 That the Legislative Management consider studying whether health insurance should
21 provide coverage for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without imposing cost-
22 sharing requirements; and
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislative Management report its findings and
24 recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations, to
25 the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly.
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