Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Expanded insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings lauded by officials, advocates

  • Health
  • by Maya Moore
  • July 17, 2019
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Maya Moore :: CT Mirror

Gathered to celebrate the passage of the bill Wednesday were a group of lawmakers, advocates, and medical professionals. Included in the group, starting fifth from the left, were House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby; Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven; Rep. Turco; Jan Kritzman; and Sen. Lesser.

Harrowing tales from breast cancer survivors from across the state and a slip-up from a freshman legislator are among the circumstances that led to the passage of a bill expanding health care coverage for annual breast cancer screenings.

There are approximately 3,500 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer in Connecticut each year, according to the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, and the scourge of the disease was apparent in the stories told at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Wednesday as officials, advocates, and health care experts lauded the passage of legislation they say will save lives.

“There is no vaccine, there really is no prevention and breast cancer is not a choice. It’s a shot from Mars that could kill you and your only weapon is early detection,” said Jan Kritzman, a survivor and advocate for Are You Dense, who said early detection saved her life. “That weapon will now be available to the women of Connecticut.”

The ultimate passage of the bill — at least in its full form — was somewhat of a fluke, however.

This past legislative session, Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, was meeting in his office with a few members of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and some advocates, discussing whether they should amend the scope of the bill to bring down its cost, when their meeting was interrupted by a call that the House of Representatives was voting.

Freshman lawmaker Rep. Gary Turco, D-Newington, rushed to open the door of Lesser’s office, but in his inexperience with the door’s security mechanism, Turco accidentally locked everyone inside.

““People were sweating to get out of there and sometimes that focuses the mind. It’s an unorthodox strategy, but it worked,” Lesser said. “I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to pass the bill as written because it was a strong pro-consumer bill and I was wondering if we needed to limit [its] scope in order to pass it. In that meeting I was convinced to go forward with the bill as it is and not whittle it down.”

Connecticut led the way in early breast cancer detection with legislation in 2009 which recommended additional ultrasound screenings for patients who had dense breast tissue—the presence of which increases the chances of breast cancer and masks abnormalities, inhibiting early cancer detection— but the bill stopped there.

Gov. Ned Lamont picked up the baton, and included in this year’s state budget is a mandate that will increase access to preventative care by lowering out-of-pocket costs for breast ultrasound screenings.

“Nancy was the catalyst, we did this together,” Joe Cappello said of his late wife Dr. Nancy Cappello, who created the Are You Dense Foundation—an advocacy group that educates women about the challenges dense breast tissue poses to early detection and its impact on missed, delayed and advanced-stage breast cancer.

“She was the person diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, because of her dense breast tissue her cancer was missed and we couldn’t understand how a large tumor could be missed after 11 years of normal mammograms,” Cappello said. Nancy passed away in November of 2018, and her advocacy work led to density inform laws in 35 states.

Current law already requires insurance policies to cover breast ultrasounds for women with dense breast tissue, family or personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing, or other high-risk indicators, however, many women forgo the screening because of the additional up-front costs. Ultrasound costs are not covered until patients have met their deductibles, officials said.

“It’s because [ultrasounds] are not covered the same way mammograms are and that was appalling to me,” said Rep. Dorinda Boer, D-West Haven, one of the bill’s lead proponents. “We talk a lot about health equity and disparities in health care, the difference between the haves and have nots, and this legislation is a concrete, tangible example of how we’re going to bridge that difference.”

The legislation will have a modest impact on the state employee and retiree health plan, with an estimated cost of $15,000 annually, according to the non-partisan Office of Legislative Research. The bulk of the cost will rest on the shoulders of private sector insurance providers.

“If you’re wealthy, you have coverage and you can go and get the breast ultrasound you need to detect early-stage cancer in women with dense breasts. But if you’re poor, if you don’t have that stellar coverage, you’re just not able to get that care,” Lesser said. “With this legislation that ends for women.”

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maya Moore Maya Moore is CT Mirror’s 2019 Emma Bowen Foundation Intern. She is a journalism and political science student at the University of Connecticut and has an interest in topics covering race and social justice. Moore began her undergraduate journalism career as a campus correspondent with UConn’s independent student-led paper, the Daily Campus, and has since interned for the Hartford Courant. Her work has also been published in the Willimantic Chronicle and the university’s premier publication, UConn Today. Moore is a New Britain native and currently resides in Mansfield, where she continues to write for UConn’s communications department.

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
How does the public option bill differ from Gov. Ned Lamont’s health care plan? Here’s a look at the two proposals.
by Jenna Carlesso

With the rising cost of care a central issue this legislative session, lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration have each moved ahead with their own plans aimed at driving down prices.

Medical providers are taking nature therapy seriously
by Jenifer Frank | C-HIT.ORG

In a time of social isolation and staying home, sometimes a walk in the park is the best medicine.

Have a case of a COVID variant? No one is going to tell you
by Christina Jewett and JoNel Aleccia | Kaiser Health News and Rachana Pradhan

Federal rules around who can be told about the variant cases are confusing, and tests have not been approved.

CT teachers are expected to get vaccinated for COVID at local clinics, but other options could cause problems
by Dave Altimari

School employees could end up on two lists, which means some vaccine might go to waste, officials said.

Grocery store workers ‘disgusted’ with Lamont’s new COVID-19 vaccine policy
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Grocery store workers are frustrated with Gov. Ned Lamont, who is no longer prioritizing them in the coronavirus vaccination schedule.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion How do we show that we value teachers? By listening to them.
by Sana Shaikh

When I was graduating college, my friends’ futures were brimming with impressive labels: Google, Facebook, McKinsey, Bain, PhD, MD, Fulbrights – the list of professional excellence was seemingly never-ending. When I said that I was becoming a teacher, I got puzzled looks – “Why would you be a teacher?” “If you can’t do, teach,” I heard. The nonchalance about my professional trajectory was unsettling. What’s more? Nothing has changed in the last ten years.

Opinion Sports betting in Connecticut: Can’t all the brands just get along?
by Bill Field

When it comes to legalized sports betting in Connecticut, it’s time that all of the parties gathered in a room and hammered out an agreement that works for everyone. The adage of everyone benefiting from a rising tide hasn’t resonated in the past two and half years. 

Opinion COVID-19 will push nursing home design forward
by Myles R. Brown

Over 40 percent of American deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been nursing home residents. Outdated nursing home designs contributed to the scale of this tragedy in Connecticut. Many design changes that could have prevented the spread of COVID-19 were already needed to improve the well-being of nursing home residents. The pandemic has made these issues impossible to ignore.

Opinion Let gig economy workers pursue options
by Nicole Petruzzi

In response to your February 22 story, “In an evolving economy, lawmakers take roles once played by unions:” Like many Connecticut workers, I struggle to make ends meet for my family, even when working full time. This last year has been a particularly hard time. I started looking for a part-time job to supplement my income, but I was worried that even something part-time would take away precious and needed time with my family.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO