HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1557        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1953

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

William C. Galvin and Louis L. Kafka

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to patient access to information regarding breast reconstructive surgery.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

William C. Galvin

6th Norfolk

1/15/2015

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

1/20/2015

Brian A. Joyce

Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth

1/16/2015

Cynthia Cushman

560 Pleasant Street Stoughton, MA 02072

1/15/2015


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1557        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1953

By Messrs. Galvin of Canton and Kafka of Stoughton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1953) of William C. Galvin, Louis L. Kafka and others relative to patient information regarding reconstructive surgery.  Public Health.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1959 OF 2013-2014.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act relative to patient access to information regarding breast reconstructive surgery.

 

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

Section 70E of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Every facility that provides mastectomy surgery, lymph node dissection or a lumpectomy shall provide information to the patient concerning the option of reconstructive surgery following such procedures, including the availability of coverage for reconstructive surgery.  The information shall be provided to the patient in writing and in advance of obtaining consent to the surgical procedure.  The information provided shall include at least the following:

1.A description of the various reconstructive options and the advantages and disadvantages of each;

2.A description of any required health coverage benefits related to reconstructive surgery under Federal and State law;

3.A description of how a patient may access reconstructive care, including the potential of transferring care to a facility that provides reconstructive care or choosing to pursue reconstruction after completion if breast cancer surgery and chemo/radiotherapy  if warranted.