Bill would require under-40 coverage of mammograms

Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999 | 9:11 a.m.

The Las Vegas Republican also wants policies to pay for diagnosis, treatment and management of osteoporosis.

These are preventive health insurance measures, she said as she introduced the two bills. But she acknowledges insurance companies are "not very happy" about the legislation because it makes the coverage mandatory.

"It we take care of the issue early on, we can save a lot of people," Berman said of her mammogram bill. "I have seen women 35 years old with breast cancer die, leaving little children.

The present law requires coverage for an annual mammogram for women 40 and older and for a baseline mammogram for women between 35 and 40.

AB163 requires coverage for a mammogram for women younger than 40 who have a history of breast cancer or of benign breast disease proven by a biopsy, who had a family member with breast cancer or who did not give birth before they reached 30 years old.

Her second bill, AB162, requires health insurance policies to cover diagnosis, treatment and management of osteoporosis, the loss of bone mass.

"Osteoporosis is costing millions of dollars for nursing home care and home care for seniors and this is another preventative health issue," Berman said.

Smokers, those who don't exercise, those who took steroids, people who can't take estrogen and people with a family history of osteoporosis are high risks, she said.

"If you catch it at 50, there are wonderful drugs today that reverse it somewhat and stop degeneration of the bone density. That's what I'm looking for."

Both bills were referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.