Madison, WI – Yesterday, the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care held a hearing on Assembly Bill 263, commonly referred to as “Gail’s Law.” The legislation was authored by Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield) along with Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) and Representatives Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) and Nate Gustafson (R-Omro).
This bill is named after Gail Zeemer, who advocated for women at high risk for developing breast cancer – especially women with dense breast tissue. Her advocacy efforts directly led to 2017 Act 201, requiring women to be notified of dense breast tissue if found on their mammogram. Unfortunately, we lost Gail to a recurring bout of breast cancer in 2024. She never gave up fighting for better outcomes and early detection. We were blessed to be joined by Gail’s daughter and sister who testified at the hearing. Her legacy lives on through Assembly Bill 263.
Assembly Bill 263 requires health insurers to cover at no additional cost a supplemental exam for those who are at increased risk for developing breast cancer or have dense breast tissue. Yearly mammograms are a great start, but for some women they are inadequate to detect cancer at an early stage.
“Breast cancer may be primarily a health issue, but its effects reach far beyond a patient’s health,” said Rep. Duchow. “Breast cancer impacts your livelihood – your family, friends, and work. I am fighting to make sure we catch cancer at an early stage so those effected can return to their lives as quickly as possible.”
Assembly Bill 263 awaits executive action in the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care before consideration by the whole Assembly. The State Senate passed the companion bill, Senate Bill 264, this week by a vote of 32-1.
