How a new Virginia law will help women beat breast cancer

RICHMOND,Va.—WhenthediagnosticsupplementalbreastimagingbillbecomeslawonJanuary1,itwilleliminateout-of-pocketcostsforadditionalbreastcancertestssuchasmammograms,ultrasounds,andMRIs.Statelawmakerspassedthebillwithunanimoussupportduringthe2025GeneralAssemblysession. “Ourbigprioritythisyearwasdefinitelypassingthisbill,”KirstaMillerwiththeVirginiaBreastCancerFoundation(VBCF)said.“Youdon’talwaysgetawinlikethis.Advocacytakestime.Policytakestime.Legislationtakestime.Sothisissomethingthatwe’rethrilledtohaveatthefinishline.” DelegateShellySimonds(D-NewportNews),whosemotherisabreastcancersurvivor,sponsoredthebill. “Theproblemismanytimeswomenshowupatthedoctor’sofficeforthesecondaryscreensandareaskedtoprovideanupfrontpaymentof$300,$500,even$1,000,”Simondssaid.“Weknowthatisahugebarriertocare.” Dr.EmilyBellavance,asurgicaloncologistattheVirginiaCancerInstituteandVBCFboardmember,sa