New York poised to expand access to breast cancer screening

This image shows metastasized human breast cancer cells (magnified 400 times, stained brown) in lymph nodes. (National Cancer Institute)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York is poised to expand access to breast cancer screening under an agreement reached by top state lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who made combating the cancer a priority after the successful cancer treatment of his girlfriend, Food Network star Sandra Lee.

Under the deal, the state will order 210 hospitals to expand hours when mammograms are offered and require insurance companies to eliminate deductibles and co-pays for the screening and some other diagnostic tests.

The proposal is expected to be formally approved by lawmakers this week.

Cuomo says the idea is to allow more women to get screened because early detection saves lives.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New York, with some 15,000 across the state diagnosed each year.