MAMMOGRAM: BREAST DENSITY NOTICE S.B. 879 (S-3):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 879 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Dave Hildenbrand
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Health Code to do the following:
-- Require a person who provided mammography services to give certain information to a patient whose mammogram demonstrated dense breast tissue.
-- Authorize the Department of Community Health to update the definition of "dense breast tissue" by order, if necessary; and require the Department to forward the order to the Legislature.
Under regulations established pursuant to Federal law, a facility that performs a mammogram must ensure that a written report of the results of a mammography examination, signed by the interpreting physician, is prepared. The report must be given to the patient's physician, or, if a physician is not available or if there is no physician, directly to the patient. Additionally, a summary of the report in terms easily understood by a lay person must be sent directly to the patient.
Under the bill, if a patient's mammogram demonstrated dense breast tissue, in the summary sent directly to the patient, a person who provided mammography services in Michigan would have to give the patient notification that included the following information:
Your mammogram shows that your breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue is very common and is not abnormal. However, dense breast tissue can make it harder to find cancer through a mammogram. Also, dense breast tissue may increase your risk for breast cancer. This information about the result of your mammogram is given to you to raise your awareness. Use this information to discuss with your health care provider whether other supplemental tests in addition to your mammogram may be appropriate for you, based on your individual risk. A report of your results was sent to your ordering physician. If you are self-referred, a report of your results was sent to you in addition to this summary.
The bill would take effect on June 1, 2015.
Proposed MCL 333.13524 Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in very minor costs to the Department of Community Health to update information and forward the changes to the Legislature.
Date Completed: 6-9-14 Fiscal Analyst: Steve Angelotti
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.