Legislation to Expand Preventative Care for Breast Cancer Now in Effect

October 30, 2023

PHOENIX, Arizona — For Christina Ferraro, MD — a breast radiologist at Valleywise Health — Arizona's outdated breast cancer screening statutes were a serious concern. Since the widespread implementation of mammography and its latest technology, breast cancer mortality rates have fallen by nearly 40% in the United States. However, as technology propelled forward, Arizona's state laws and statutes stagnated.

"My patients' access to breast cancer screening was being threatened by outdated laws and statutes that had not tracked with the latest screening technology and recommendations,” shared Dr. Ferraro. "These stale laws were, in turn, enabling insurance companies to deny screening coverage to women who needed it. This perpetuates a cycle of poor access, which leads to late diagnoses, strains on our systems, clinician burnout, and, most importantly, poor health outcomes. Updating state statutes to avoid these outcomes seemed relatively straightforward and like something everyone could get behind. So, I spoke up."

Striving to improve health outcomes for her patients, Dr. Ferraro contacted the Arizona Medical Association, the state's largest physician-led organization advocating for Arizona patients and the communities we serve. Together, ArMA and Dr. Ferraro drafted Senate Bill 1601, a legislative measure to resolve the negative consequences of Arizona's dated state laws. During the 2023 Legislative Session, S.B. 1601 was sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp and made its way through the Arizona State Legislature, where its passage received broad, bipartisan support. On May 9, 2023, the historic measure was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.

Through Dr. Ferraro's grassroots advocacy, the latest mammography technology, tomosynthesis, has been added to the definition of mammography in the state's breast cancer screening statute. Now, this innovative, widely adopted technology will be covered by insurance for all Arizonans.

The accuracy and clarity of tomosynthesis's 3-D imaging enable physicians to detect cancer early and decisively, thereby reducing callbacks. For patients, this means expedited answers about whether the mammogram in question is a life completely altered.

S.B. 1601 will also require insurers to cover screening for both average-risk and high-risk women at ages and intervals suggested by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's latest recommendations, which are informed by experts from more than two dozen leading cancer centers in the U.S.

"One out of eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime," stated Libby McDannell, CEO of ArMA, in an interview with Arizona PBS. "And, in the United States alone, more than 42,000 women die from breast cancer each year. We need to make sure the research is where it needs to be, but we also know that coverage and screening are important diagnostic tools for preventing as many deaths as possible. Now, [through S.B. 1601,] insurers are mandated to cover [tomosynthesis] at 100% of the cost, so it's no cost to patients.”

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, ArMA celebrates S.B. 1601's success at increasing patients' access to preventative care, including the latest breast cancer screening technology.

Monday, October 30, 2023, marks Arizona's General Effective Date, when hundreds of bills passed by the Arizona State Legislature and signed by Governor Hobbs officially go into effect, including S.B. 1601.


About Christina Ferraro, MD

Christina Ferraro, MD, is a practicing breast radiologist at Valleywise Health in Phoenix, Arizona. She is also an assistant professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine and the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. After graduating from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Ferraro completed her radiology residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix. She then went on to complete a breast imaging fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Dr. Ferraro is passionate about serving the underserved and teaching radiology residents and medical students.


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ADHS Issues Standing Orders for Flu, COVID-19 Vaccine Access

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment. 

Arizona Asks Supreme Court to Halt Prison Health Care Takeover

By Admin User • September 18, 2026
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .