January 17th, 2019 - Testifying at the NJ Senate Committee of Health and Human Services

Currently, a breast cancer patient must choose their plastic surgeon based upon who is included on their insurance company list of approved providers. Breast surgeons typically recommend a plastic surgeon and work with each other, but the patient many times is unable to use that surgeon because they are not on the approved list. Mastectomies with reconstruction involve multiple surgeries and yearly follow up appointments. It is not uncommon for a patient to start the process with one plastic surgeon, and have to change providers for the subsequent surgeries. Not only can this be dangerous, but it leads to a stressful and uncomfortable situation for the patient who is already dealing with a lingering cancer diagnosis. I know this situation because I witnessed it first hand when my mother, a three time breast cancer survivor, had to switch plastic surgeons in the middle of a two part reconstruction due to a change in her insurance policy.

A group of plastic surgeons decided to write a bill mandating insurance companies to pay for post mastectomy reconstruction regardless of which provider performs the surgery. I was asked by one of the surgeons involved in this bill to testify in front of the NJ Senate at a meeting for the Committee of Health and Human Services. Two of the senators present, Senator Joseph Lagana and Senator Vin Gopal, were responsible for sponsoring this bill. Using my personal story combined with professional clinical experiences and observations, the testimony delivered was well received and reportedly made a large impact amongst the ten senators on the committee. All ten senators voted “Yes” to moving the bill through to the next step in the process, and I look forward to continuing to testify until this bill is passed.