New Jersey lawmakers are working on a measure that could lead to earlier detection for woman who are at high risk for breast cancer.

The bill would require all state regulated and state run health insurance plans to pay for ultrasound and MRI screenings for high risk patients, including women with a family history of breast cancer.  Dr. Basil Hubbi is chief of breast imaging at University Hospital.  

“For those specific patients the breast MRI is actual revolutionary because it’s able to detect breast cancers much earlier and at a stage that conventional screening tests like the mammogram would not be able to detect.”

If passed the bill would include nearly one third of New Jersey women covered under state run and regulated insurance plans. The bill now goes to full assembly, it has already passed the state senate.