Colorado Breast Screening Policies
Colorado law, along with federal regulations under the Affordable Care Act, requires insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, to cover annual mammograms for women aged 40 and older. Mammogram providers are also mandated to notify women about their breast density.
Colorado legislation further mandates that the Department of Insurance (DOI)-regulated health insurers cover not only routine mammograms but also medically necessary diagnostic and supplemental breast imaging. However, this supplemental screening coverage does not extend to Medicare, Medicaid, military, or self-insured plans.
SB25-296
Summary
The law makes changes to requirements for preventive care coverage by health insurers for breast cancer screening, including:
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Effective 6 August 2025
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Relocating in statute the high-risk breast cancer screening requirements;
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Defining and specifying criteria for the use of diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations; and
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Clarifying that, in addition to regular breast cancer screening, diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations that are medically necessary and conducted within nationally recognized screening guidelines do not require cost sharing by the patient.
Colorado SB17-742
Bill Summary
"The bill requires that each mammography report provided to a patient include information that identifies the patient's breast tissue classification based on the breast imaging reporting and data system established by the American College of Radiology. If the health care facility that performed the mammography determines that a patient has dense breast tissue, the facility is required to notify the patient of the determination using specific language."
HB19-1301
Bill Summary
"Health insurance - required coverage - breast cancer screening with noninvasive imaging. The act requires health care coverage for breast cancer screening studies and subsequent breast imaging using the noninvasive imaging modality appropriate for each individual, as determined by the individual's health care provider, and within the appropriate use guidelines as determined by the American College of Radiology or the National Comprehensive Cancer Network."
Join CAMI Health and Partners
CAMI Health and its partners are dedicated to creating an equitable future for supplemental breast cancer screening in Colorado. Our mission focuses on supporting individuals at elevated risk, particularly where standard mammograms fall short as effective early detection tools.
Join us in advocating for change—contact us to sign up and support new legislation aimed at improving access to supplemental screening for all Coloradoans.