May is Mammography Month in Pennsylvania: Senate President Pro Tempore Ward, PA Breast Cancer Coalition Urge Early Screening

HARRISBURG - Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), along with co-sponsors Sens. Christine Tartaglione (D-2), Frank Farry (R-6), Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) and Devlin Robinson (R-37), announced a Senate resolution recognizing May 2026 as Mammography Month in Pennsylvania. Continuing to build awareness on the importance of early breast cancer detection, Ward is again partnering with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) to encourage women to schedule their mammograms.

"This year marks my five years cancer-free thanks to early detection and successful treatments," said Ward. "We all know someone who received a breast cancer diagnosis and understand how scary it can be. I am proud of the work we are doing in Pennsylvania by leading the way to ensure high-risk individuals have access to critical services without worrying about cost. Our message during Mammography Month is simple but powerful: Early detection saves lives."

Pennsylvania has laws to cover both breast cancer screenings and diagnostic breast imaging at no cost for individuals with state-regulated insurance. A groundbreaking law, Act 1 of 2023, eliminates out-of-pocket costs associated with breast cancer screening for high-risk patients covered under state-regulated insurance plans and ensures that supplemental tests - such as MRIs, breast ultrasounds and BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling - are fully covered. Act 52 of 2025, expands on the comprehensive coverage of Act 1 of 2023 and will be fully implemented in 2028.

"Early detection should be within reach for every woman. Behind every mammogram is a life, a family, and a future. When we make mammograms accessible, we protect all three," said PA Breast Cancer Coalition President Pat Halpin-Murphy. "We are proud to partner with Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward each Mammography May in PA to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has information and no-cost access to care. Don't miss your mammogram!"

The need for awareness and action remains critical. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 322,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer nationwide in 2026. In Pennsylvania alone, an average of 38 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. Nearly one in four women aged 50 to 74 have not received a mammogram in the past two years, despite strong evidence that early detection drastically improves outcomes.

Ward and the PBCC will work together throughout May to spread the message of early detection, knowing family history and using the tools made available through Act 1 of 2023 and Act 52 of 2025. Visit the PBCC's Mammography May webpage to learn more about early detection.

Video of President Pro Tempore Kim Ward's Senate Floor Remarks on May Mammography Month.

CONTACTS:
Erica Clayton Wright (Ward)
Natalie Kopp (PBCC)