Indy Standard

Gov. Eric Holcomb ceremonially signed into law legislation authored by State Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) to improve breast cancer screening and prevention for Hoosier women on Thursday.

House Enrolled Act 1058 mandates that mammogram providers inform patients if they have dense breast tissue, which can make cancer harder to detect. According to the National Cancer Institute, dense breasts are not considered an abnormal breast condition or a disease but are a risk factor for breast cancer.

"Many women are unaware of their breast tissue density and the risks it may have to their health," Negele said. "Now, patients will have additional resources they need for early detection that may just save their lives."

About half of women who are 40 years old or older have dense breasts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mammography is less sensitive in women with dense breasts and more likely to miss cancer.

The new law also adds aesthetic flat closure and chest wall reconstruction to the insurance coverage of breast cancer rehabilitative services and reconstruction surgery. Additionally, any woman insured under a state employee health plan can receive additional coverage for medical and surgical benefits relating to a post-mastectomy procedure.

For more information on HEA 1058, visit iga.in.gov.

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State Rep. Sharon Negele (R-Attica) represents House District 13, which includes all of Benton and Warren counties and portions of Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe, and White counties.

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