ANS mandates digital mammography coverage for all ages in Brazil

The National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS) has mandated that health insurance providers in Brazil must cover digital mammography exams for all individuals upon medical indication, effective October 1. This new regulation removes previous age restrictions that limited mandatory coverage to women between 40 and 69 years old.

Digital mammography is an advanced diagnostic tool that allows for the detection of breast cancer changes before they can be felt by touch. The technology offers several clinical advantages, including lower radiation exposure, reduced breast compression time, and digital image storage, which facilitates easier clinical monitoring and specialist evaluation.

The decision follows recommendations from the Commission for the Update of the List of Procedures and Events in Supplementary Health (Cosaúde), which argued that digital mammography is a consolidated standard of oncological care and that previous age limits could delay timely diagnoses. The expanded coverage also applies to all genders, including non-binary individuals.