Governor Josh Shapiro signed SB 88, a measure to expand coverage of breast cancer screenings into law on November 24, 2025. The new law amends Pennsylvania’s existing mandate to cover breast cancer screenings, which was outlined in the May 9, 2023, Compliance Corner article, “Coverage for Preventative Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Screenings.” Designed to bring Pennsylvania’s existing law into compliance with recent changes to federal breast cancer screening guidelines published by the Health Resources and Services Administration, the new law will require coverage of supplemental breast cancer screenings and diagnostic tests and examinations without patient cost-sharing for women with an average or higher risk of developing breast cancer.
The new law will impact fully insured coverage issued or renewed in the state. While SB 88 will take effect in January 2026, it will not affect the coverage terms of policies in place on its effective date. Instead, it will affect coverage issued, approved, or renewed on or after July 24, 2026. Employers offering fully insured coverage issued in the state should be aware of the expansion of breast cancer screening coverage and refer to their carrier for additional information.