Bismarck, N.D. (KXNET)- Another close vote in the Senate side on Friday, where lawmakers said 'no' to an idea to help cover the cost of breast exams. Representative Karen Karls was sponsoring House Bill 1283, which was seeking to pay for diagnostic breast exams for people who are covered under th e Public Employees Retirement System in North Dakota.The bill was seeking to prevent the insurance board from charging a person a deductible, copay or anything out-of-pocket for a test that could find breast cancer early.Lawmakers who voted against the bill say it would simply increase costs for other people in the insurance pool. "I know that in Medicaid that 20 percent of the people represent 80 percent of the cost," Sen. Dick Dever from Bismarck said. "So, the cost is spread out among all of the members of the insurance. That's what insurance is. So, I would encourage that we give serious consideration to this because it avoids costs into the future." "This will go on to the employers. And as the employers continue to have racked up costs, more expenses. They're ultimately going to maybe crank back on what they're giving their employees or maybe eliminate the programs and put everybody out on their own," Sen. Jerry Klein from Fessenden said. The bill failed on Friday by a vote of 22-24. ...read more read less