HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1234        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2118

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act investigate the use of computed tomography (CT) scans in the Commonwealth..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 4F of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the second paragraph the following two paragraphs:–

The advisory council shall investigate the use of computed tomography (CT) scans in the Commonwealth.  The advisory council shall consider the frequency of CT scan prescribing in the population, the nature of CT scanning, the screening of asymptomatic patients, the associated radiation doses and the consequent cancer risks in adults and particularly in children from CT scans.

The council shall make recommendations for changes, as appropriate, in the periodicity of said screenings and any recommended tools to be used to track and assess individual risk associated with screenings.  The council shall file a comprehensive report under this paragraph with the joint committees on public health and health care financing no later than December 31, 2010.