In a decisive move by the Oklahoma Legislature, a veto by Governor Kevin Stitt on House Bill 1389 was overridden last Thursday, marking a significant victory for advocates of women's health. The bill, which is aimed at expanding access to advanced breast cancer screenings for women with dense breast tissue, received hearty bipartisan support within the House, passing with a unanimous 95-0 vote before facing the governor's opposition.
Among the bill’s champions are members of the legislature who, in an open letter addressed to Governor Stitt and first reported by the Oklahoma House website, expressed their "profound disappointment" over the veto. "Your veto critically limits life-saving care for Oklahoma women," they wrote. The bill’s provisions included the inclusion of contrast-enhanced mammograms and molecular breast imaging in the definition of diagnostic breast cancer exams, ensuring insurance coverage for supplemental screenings based on personal and family medical history.
This legislative effort was not only a question of policy but also a deeply personal one, as one of the bill's authors is herself currently battling breast cancer. The overriding of the veto represents a pushback against what the lawmakers saw as a disregard for women's health issues that affect a significant portion of the state's population. As per the Oklahoma House, “These screenings are not experimental. They are recommended by experts and widely recognized as essential tools in the early detection of breast cancer, which saves lives," legislators stated in their letter.
The group of lawmakers, which includes representatives like Tammy West, Cyndi Munson, and Emily Gise, underscored the bill’s importance by saying, “The Legislature passed HB 1389 with overwhelming, bipartisan support. We celebrate the override that took place on Thursday, and we will continue to fight for the women and families who need these protections,” reflecting their resolve to fortify women's health initiatives in Oklahoma. With the bill now set to become law, Oklahoma women with dense breast tissue stand to benefit from increased access to potentially life-saving screenings, as reported by the Oklahoma House.
