Senate Resolution 907
By: Senators Williams of the 25th, Burns of the 23rd, Hickman of the 4th, Goodman of the
8th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, and others
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Department of Insurance, in collaboration with the Department of Community
Health, to meet with stakeholders to explore best practices in the medical surveillance of
patients after primary therapy for breast cancer and to provide any recommendations; and for
other purposes.
WHEREAS, breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in women in the
United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer among women in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, the American Cancer Society estimates that, in 2026, about 2,670 men will be
diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and about 530 men will die from breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, depending on the individual patient and the type and stage of breast cancer,
treatments for breast cancer include surgery, such as a lumpectomy, breast-conserving
surgery, mastectomy, or double mastectomy, and adjuvant therapy, such as chemotherapy,
radiotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy; and
WHEREAS, after treatments for breast cancer, medical surveillance is crucial to monitor and
detect any local recurrence of cancer in either breast, the breast area, the chest wall, or
regional lymph nodes and to monitor and detect distant metastases or therapy related
diseases; and
WHEREAS, there is debate on the cost-effectiveness, accuracy, and medical necessity of
routine mammography, X-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission
tomography scans, and computed tomography scans after a mastectomy or double
mastectomy when the patient is asymptomatic; and
WHEREAS, a well-defined, evidence based surveillance protocol is needed to manage
patients with breast cancer after the initial diagnosis, during staging, after primary treatment,
and during any follow-up care to detect early local recurrence of cancer and distant
metastases or therapy related diseases; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Insurance, in collaboration with the Department of
Community Health, is in the optimal position to gather data and information from
stakeholders, including, but not limited to, breast cancer survivors; family members of breast
cancer survivors; medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists; radiologists; pathologists;
other healthcare providers; and health insurers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
urge the Department of Insurance, in collaboration with the Department of Community
Health, to meet with stakeholders to explore best practices in the medical surveillance of
patients after primary therapy for breast cancer and to provide any recommendations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Insurance shall submit any
recommendations to the chairpersons of the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee and the
Senate Health and Human Services Committee no later than February 1, 2027, along with
any proposed legislation, policy, or budget changes needed to implement such
recommendations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the Commissioner
of Insurance and the commissioner of the Department of Community Health.