Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed his first bill into law Monday afternoon at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The bill requires insurance companies to cover preventative breast and ovarian cancer screenings at no cost for high-risk women. "It's a great day," Shapiro said while addressing the crowd inside of the State Capitol Rotunda Monday afternoon."This is a great example of what we can do in Harrisburg, where Democrats and Republicans come together to get the job done," he said. The legislation was introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward. It passed both the House and the Senate unanimously. For Westmoreland County's Ward, its passage was personal. "When you go through something like breast cancer, or any kind of cancer, you are just living your life and then you get punched in the gut," Ward said. Ward said she based parts of the bill on her own battle with breast cancer in 2020. She had previously shared that during her treatment, doctors discovered she carried a hereditary gene for the disease.The legislation removes out-of-pocket costs associated with genetic testing for hereditary breast, ovarian, prostate and other cancer syndromes. It also removes the cost associated with supplemental breast screenings for women with a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. "A lot of times, people who cannot afford to pay, they won't come. And so then what happens? You have people walking around potentially with a cancer that's not diagnosed," LaJuana Fuller, the Director of Women’s Imaging at UPMC Magee Hospital, said. Fuller says this legislation is critical, calling it lifesaving. "Someone will have their mother, their sister, their wife, their daughter, because we're saving lives," Fuller said. According to Fuller, those considered high risk include women with a family history of breast cancer, especially in multiple relatives and in relatives diagnosed under the age of 50. Those with a family history of ovarian cancer are also considered high risk. Women with an inherited pathogenic mutation in a gene, like BRCA1 or BRCA2, are considered high risk as well. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. They estimate that more than 297,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women this year alone. According to Fuller, early detection is a key factor in saving lives, but it's only one of the preventative measures. She stressed the importance of seeing a physician at least once a year. Fuller says a screening mammogram continues to be the most powerful tool in the early detection and treatment of breast abnormalities."It's a three-pronged thing," Fuller said. "Imaging as recommended, depending on your family and personal history. Then a clinical breast exam and then also a personal self-breast exam." Fuller says there are also additional ways that women in need can get financial support for treatment. UMPC Magee has funding available from 'A Glimmer of Hope' to help cover testing for those under the age of 40. There is also help available from 84 Lumber for women over the age of 40. If you are interested in learning more, you can call 412-641-1011.