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By: State Rep. Jennifer Fidler — March 2, 2026 When a woman hears the words, “You have breast cancer,” her world changes instantly. In that moment, she is not thinking about insurance codes, provider networks, or reimbursement formulas. She is thinking about survival — about her children, about whether she will live to see her next birthday. And yet, for too many women in Alabama, what comes after cancer surgery brings a second, unexpected battle, one not against disease, but

By: SocialAlabamaMagazines Dr. Mark Stalder For women navigating breast cancer, choosing the right option for reconstruction is both deeply personal and life-changing. Yet across Alabama, many women are never able to explore all the surgical options that may be right for them. Insurance barriers, coverage limitations, and a lack of regional specialists often make the most advanced forms of reconstruction — including your-own-tissue microsurgical procedures — difficult or impo

Doctors and breast cancer survivors urge State action as new legislation aims to close gaps between insurance coverage and real access to care. Surgeons, breast cancer survivors, advocates and State lawmakers recently met in Mobile to confront persistent gaps in access to breast reconstruction care after mastectomy. The forum underscored how coverage on paper does not always translate into timely, practical care for patients across Alabama. The January 10 event included recon

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2019 This analysis compares reconstructive approaches after mastectomy, focusing on cost considerations, patient-reported outcomes, and the challenges clinicians face when evidence across studies is inconsistent or limited. “DIEP reconstruction maybe more cost-effective and yield superior [patient-reported outcomes]. However, poor-quality, bias-ridden studies limit the findings. Adequate reporting of core outcome measures is req

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2022 This analysis compares autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction, examining postoperative outcomes and factors associated with recovery and readmission after surgery. “Compared with women who underwent prosthetic reconstructions, studies have shown autologous reconstructions are associated with greater breast satisfaction and increased psychosocial and sexual well-being.” Read the study here.

Microsurgery, 2022 This analysis evaluates nine different approaches to immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy, comparing clinical outcomes and cost implications from healthcare and societal perspectives to help clinicians and patients consider relative benefits and trade-offs among reconstructive options. “All nine methods of immediate breast reconstruction were considered cost-effective from healthcare/societal perspectives. [Latissimus dorsi] provided the lowest

Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2023 This analysis compares reconstructive approaches for patients who require radiation after mastectomy, examining both outcomes and cost-effectiveness to help guide surgical planning and long-term care decisions. “For patients with [locally advanced breast cancer] who require [post-mastectomy radiation therapy], staged autologous reconstruction is significantly more cost-effective than reconstruction with implants. Despite the decreased morbidi

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2025 This analysis evaluates the long-term cost-effectiveness of prophylactic mastectomy with autologous reconstruction for individuals with BRCA1/2 mutations, examining how preventive surgery compares with ongoing cancer surveillance and treatment. “Prophylactic mastectomy with autologous reconstruction performed at ages 30, 35 or 40 years, was found to be a cost-effective alternative to breast cancer surveillance and disease treatment in

When a woman hears the words, “You have breast cancer,” her world changes instantly. In that moment, she is not thinking about insurance codes, provider networks, or reimbursement formulas. She is thinking about survival—about her children, about whether she will live to see her next birthday. And yet, for too many women in Alabama, what follows cancer surgery brings a second battle—not against disease, but against their own health insurer. Federal law has long recognized tha

By Scott Johnson Feb 12, 2026 Health insurance plans are functionally limiting which breast cancer procedures are available in Alabama, according to advocates backing new legislation filed Thursday. A bill sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Silverhill, titled "The Breast Reconstruction Coverage and Patient Choice Act" seeks to change that landscape. The proposal, filed as House Bill 435, would explicitly mandate all public and private healthcare plans to cover all stages of