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5/22/2014
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Assembly OKs legislation requiring 'breast density' reporting
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STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly has approved and will be sending to the governor legislation intended to help improve Rhode Island women’s health and safety by requiring facilities that perform mammograms to provide their patients with more information on the subject of breast density and more complete reporting on the results of their tests.
Passed in concurrence today by the House of Representatives was Senate bill 2014-S 2522Aaa, by Sen. James E. Doyle II (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), which was previously approved by that chamber. A companion House bill, 2014-H 7341, by Rep. Elaine A. Coderre (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket), also received final approval today in the Senate.
The legislation, if enacted, will require health care facilities that perform mammograms to notify their patient of any finding of dense breast tissue and basic information about breast density. Under the “Dense Breast Notification and Education Act,” beginning October 1 of this year, mammogram exam summaries provided to patients would include information that identifies the patient’s individual Breast Tissue Classification based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology.
Research has shown that having dense breast tissue may increase a woman’s risk of getting breast cancer, and the American Cancer Society noted in a recent publication that dense breast tissue also makes it harder for doctors to see cancer on mammograms.
The legislation provides that, if the testing facility determines that a patient has heterogeneously or extremely dense breast tissue, the summary to be provided will include a notice that says, in part, “… The presence of dense tissue can make it more difficult to detect cancers in the breast by mammography, because it can hide small abnormalities and may be associated with an increased risk. Hence, you may benefit from supplementary screening tests,” and “We are providing this information to raise your awareness of this important factor.”
A report of the result, under the bill, will also be send to the individual’s physician.
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457
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