CAGNO’s BREASTORATION PROGRAM RECEIVES GRANT FOR BREAST RECONSTRUCTION PATIENTS
Breastoration Helps pass Strongest Breast Reconstruction Law in the nation
Click here for our spot on WWL News Louisiana has passed new laws to make breast reconstruction more accessible to women after breast cancer and a mastectomy. Breastoration founder Kim Sport and Louisiana representative Helena Moreno share more information on the new laws.
Dr. Alan Stolier, renowned breast cancer oncologist, at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery testified in support of the new law and criticized prior law which required that a mastectomy and reconstruction be performed under the same insurance plan: “Breast reconstruction is not a single event, in many instances there are conditions that require additional procedures before reconstruction can take place.” Sport, a three-time cancer survivor, testified that “Women who are fighting for their lives do not need to fight with their health insurance companies over whether or not a procedure should be covered.” “Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer is terrifying, but no woman ever facing a mastectomy thinks she is getting cosmetic surgery,” states Sport. “Every stage of the reconstructive process is medically necessary and no insurance company should ever deny coverage because the guidelines determine a procedure is cosmetic.”
HB694 assures that women have insurance coverage for the type of reconstructive procedure she selects in consultation with her physicians and surgeons. The bill further states “‘Breast reconstruction’ means all stages of reconstruction of the breast on which a mastectomy has been performed and on the other breast to produce a symmetrical appearance, including but not limited to liposuction performed for transfer to a reconstructed breast or to repair a donor site deformity, tattooing the areola of the breast, surgical adjustments of the non-mastectomized breast, and prostheses and physical complications, including but not limited to lymphedemas.”
New Orleans, Louisiana – On June 30, 2016, Breastoration, Inc., which is administered by CAGNO, received a Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund Charitable Care Award to directly support the surgical care expenses for women having reconstructive surgery in Southeast Louisiana. The PSF was impressed by Breastoration’s history of being the only organization of its kind in Louisiana which educates women on the availability of health insurance for reconstruction following a mastectomy and which has assisted with funding 118 reconstructive surgeries at 12 surgical institutions since it was formed in 2011.
The PSF was particularly impressed this year with Breastoration’s partnership with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana in spearheading the passage of a law in the 2016 Legislative Session which provides the most comprehensive insurance coverage in the nation for women undergoing reconstruction following a mastectomy. HB 694 which was drafted by Breastoration co-founder, Kim Sport, and championed by Rep. Helena Moreno, passed unanimously during every stage of the legislative process and was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards on May 19, 2016.
BREASTORATION is an organization created by breast cancer survivors and advocates for women fighting breast cancer. In addition to advocacy and educational resources to empower all women at risk for, or diagnosed with, breast cancer, the Breastoration Fund provides financial assistance to cover ancillary expenses of women from across the country seeking breast reconstruction surgery in CAGNO’s service area. CAGNO’s service area includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, St. Charles, Washington, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, Terrebonne, and St. John the Baptist Parishes.
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