Oklahoma Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto, Enacts Law for Better Breast Cancer Screening Coverage

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.

Oklahoma Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto, Enacts Law for Better