FILED ON: 10/31/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3733

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

An Act relative to breast cancer early detection.

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.  Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:—

Section 231.  Every provider of mammography services shall, if a patient’s mammogram reveals dense breast tissue, as determined by the interpreting physician based on standards promulgated by the American College of Radiology, provide notification to such patient that shall include at minimum the following information:

1) That the patient’s mammogram shows dense breast tissue;

2) That dense breast tissue is common and not abnormal, but that dense breast tissue may increase the risk of breast cancer;

3) That dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to find cancer on a mammogram, and that sometimes additional testing is needed for reliable breast cancer screening;

4) The interpreting physician’s determination whether or not additional testing is recommended for the patient.  If additional testing is recommended, then the interpreting physician shall make or note the need for an appropriate referral;

5) That the patient has the right to discuss the results of the patient’s mammogram with the interpreting radiologist or the referring physician; and

6) That a report of the patient’s mammogram has been sent to the referring physician, and will become part of the patient’s medical record.