After riding a motorcycle for 500 miles, Governor Andrew Cuomo was able to speak at Canalside on behalf of his "Get Screened, No Excuses" campaign, which encourages women to get screened for breast cancer.
More than 15,000 women in New York State are impacted by this, including his partner Sandra Lee, who rode the motorcycle with him. This is why Cuomo is taking action.
"This is going to save lives," said Cuomo. "There is no state in the nation that has passed a piece of legislation like what we have done for breast cancer."
According to Governor Cuomo, 40 percent of women who should get screened do not, and say it is because of lack of time and high costs. But Cuomo thinks these are not excuses anymore.
"The hours have changed," said Cuomo. "It'll be done at your convenience. There is no cost. There is no reason not to be screened."
This law forces insurance companies to waive fees so that these services are completely free for women. The law also says that hospitals and clinics have to be open four additional hours a week, after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Buffalo's Erie County Medical Center is also encouraging women to get screened.
"ECMC has been providing mobile mammography services in the community -- rural areas, inner-city areas since 2012," said Tom Quatrochi, CEO of ECMC. "Over 9,000 women have received screenings since then."
The mobile truck, that cost almost $1 million, has saved the lives of 21 women.
"This unit behind us, this coach, has two full-filled mobile mammography units on it and can screen a lot of women at the same time," said Quatrochi. "We do up to 40 women a day."
Cuomo hopes this law will motivate women to get screened, and therefore change lives in New York State.
"Let's make this state a model state where a fatality of breast cancer is a thing of the past, and not a thing of the future."
