Power of prevention: Highlighting high-risk screening, Gail’s Law during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Emplify Health by Bellin is reminding women across the region that knowing their risk - and acting on it - can be lifesaving. With the passage of Gail's Law earlier this year and the recent expansion of its High-Risk Breast Clinic, Emplify Health by Bellin is offering patients more tools than ever to detect breast cancer earlier and improve outcomes.

Gail's Law: A milestone for women's health
Earlier this year, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed Gail's Law, legislation that mandates insurance coverage for supplemental breast cancer screenings - such as ultrasound or MRI - for women with dense breast tissue. Nearly 40 percent of women have dense breast tissue, which can obscure tumors on traditional mammograms. The law ensures these women will be able to receive necessary supplemental screenings at no cost-share, marking a significant stride in early cancer detection and prevention.

Gail's Law addresses a critical gap by mandating insurance coverage for supplemental screenings, which can reveal cancers that mammograms alone might not detect. Insurance coverage for necessary supplemental screenings will be mandated on Jan. 1, 2027, the start of the new plan year.

Health experts agree that by removing financial barriers, more women with dense breast tissue will be able to access the screenings they need in a timely fashion, leading to earlier diagnosis, referrals to specialized high-risk breast care programs and more effective treatment options.

High-risk Breast Clinic: What patients should know
Emplify Health by Bellin's High Risk Breast Clinic is working toward early detection and improved outcomes by targeting and following women who have a greater chance at developing the disease. After getting its start a few years ago, the clinic is devoting even more resources to helping patients assess and track their risk - leading to earlier diagnoses and subsequent treatment.

Many factors are considered when calculating a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer, including personal history, family history, lifestyle, breast density and genetic predisposition. If a patient's lifetime risk is greater than 20 percent, she has positive genetic testing, and/or she has history of an atypical breast lesion, then she is considered high risk and followed through the program.

Once established, patients receive breast screening every six months - a standard mammogram alternating with an annual breast MRI. These screenings complement each other: a breast MRI may catch a cancer that a standard mammogram may miss, especially in women who have dense breast tissue. However, it is important to note that a breast MRI cannot replace an annual screening mammogram, as those are still the gold standard for breast cancer detection.

"Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important reminder that early detection saves lives, but awareness alone isn't enough - women need to act on it," said Nurse Practitioner Jennie Cumicek of the Emplify Health by Bellin High-Risk Breast Clinic. "I encourage every woman to know her individual risk factors, stay current with her recommended screening schedule, and have an honest conversation with her provider about whether supplemental screening or referral to a high-risk clinic is right for her. Screening is one of the most powerful tools we have, because the earlier we find cancer, the more treatable and curable it is."