(WFRV) – Wisconsin lawmakers have overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill, 96-0, that would significantly expand access to breast cancer screenings in the state.
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The bill is known as Gail’s Law, in honor of Gail Zeamer, a Neenah woman who was diligent in getting her yearly mammograms; however, those mammograms are sometimes not enough to detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, which nearly 40% of women have.
Zeamer’s breast cancer diagnosis was delayed because she didn’t know about breast density or the risk factors. Unfortunately, Gail passed away in 2024, but not before she had vouched for changes to the healthcare industry in the state in search of helping save lives from breast cancer.
Gail’s Law requires health insurance policies to cover diagnostic breast exams and supplemental screening exams for people at an increased risk of breast cancer. The bill also says that policies may not charge a cost-sharing amount for either.
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State Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Fox Crossing) was one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill, which now heads to Governor Tony Evers’ desk for signature. A statement from her is below:
State Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Fox Crossing):
“I am proud to see this critical women’s health initiative advance to the Governor’s desk. This bill will save money, lead to better health outcomes, and most importantly, save lives. It is now time for the Governor to sign this critical bill into law.”
“I am proud to lead this critical women’s health initiative, which was inspired by Gail Zeamer, a fearless woman who shared her heartbreaking story of a missed diagnosis due to dense breast tissue. We have built a strong, bipartisan coalition to get this bill across the finish line. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful advocates, families, and Gail for getting the bill to this point.”
The full text of Gail’s Law, or 2025 Senate Bill 264, is available here.
