HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4444

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 24, 2020.

The committee on Public Health, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1885) of William C. Galvin and Louis L. Kafka  relative to patient information regarding reconstructive surgery, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4444) ought to pass.

For the committee,

JOHN J. MAHONEY.

        FILED ON: 2/3/2020

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4444

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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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 1. Section 70E of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the ninth paragraph in line 195 the following paragraph:

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; and

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