A recent bill in the Illinois State Legislature may require health insurance providers to fully cover peripheral artery disease (PAD) screenings for high-risk individuals. Allowing full coverage of PAD screenings can help detect the disease earlier and reduce the risk of complications, including amputation.
The bill is part of a larger initiative that addresses health disparities among groups most affected by PAD. According to the American Heart Association, Black communities and communities with limited access to care are disproportionally affected by the disease compared to other groups.
While the bill only pertains to Illinois residents, supporters of the initiative, including the American College of Cardiology and the Association of Black Cardiologists, are also advocating for broader access to PAD screenings on a federal level. This includes support for the Amputation Reduction and Compassion (ARC) Act, a bill that would require full coverage for PAD screenings for high-risk individuals on Medicare and Medicaid.
Read the full article from Benzinga here.
