Bill would boost mammogram coverage

February 13, 2008

MONTPELIER — Cassandra LaRae-Perez was surprised when she found out she would have to pay out of pocket for a mammogram. She was even more shocked when she learned that — at 39 — she had breast cancer.

Now, having gone through surgery and still in radiation therapy, LaRae-Perez wanted to do something good with what she learned. By coincidence, as a lobbyist for one of the state's largest lobbying and law firms, she knew her way around the Statehouse.

"When something like this happens you want something good to come out of it," she said
Now a bill LaRae-Perez worked on with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and was introduced by Sen. John Campbell, D-Windsor, is scheduled to be on the floor of the Senate today.

"This bill makes sure no woman in Vermont has to pay more than $25 out of pocket for a screening mammogram," said Stefanie Sidortsova of VPIRG.

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