Bill Text: NJ A3560 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Revises language in mammography reports concerning detection of extremely dense breast tissue.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-08-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A3560 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A3560-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Revises language in mammography reports concerning detection of extremely dense breast tissue.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning mammograms and amending P.L.2013, c.196.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 10 of P.L.2013, c.196 (C.26:2-184.3) is amended to read as follows:
10. A facility that provides a mammography report pursuant to the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act, 42 U.S.C. s.263b, shall, if a patient's mammogram demonstrates extremely dense breast tissue based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology, include the following information, at a minimum, in the mammography report sent to the patient and the patient's health care provider: "Your mammogram [may show that you have dense breast tissue as determined by the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology] shows that your breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue is very common and is not abnormal. However, in some cases, dense breast tissue can make it harder to find cancer on a mammogram and may also be associated with a risk factor for breast cancer. Discuss this and other risks for breast cancer that pertain to your personal medical history with your health care provider. At that time, ask your health care provider if more screening tests might be useful, based on your risk. A report of your results was sent to your health care provider. You may also find more information about breast density at the website of the American College of Radiology, www.acr.org."
(cf: P.L.2013, c.196, s.10)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
Whenever a patient undergoes a mammogram the patient, and the patient's health care provider, are sent a report detailing the results of the mammogram. This bill would revise the information that is included in this report when the mammogram detects the presence of extremely dense breast tissue.
Currently, every mammography report includes language that indicates the patient may have dense breast tissue, and that although dense breast tissue is very common and is not abnormal, dense breast tissue can make it harder to detect cancer using a mammogram and may additionally be associated with a risk factor for breast cancer. The report urges patients to discuss their risk factors for breast cancer with their health care provider and provides a link to the American College of Radiology website.
The bill would provide that, in any case where a mammogram detects extremely dense breast tissue, the report would include language expressly indicating that extremely dense breast tissue was detected. The bill would not revise the other information included in the report discussing the complications and risk factors associated with dense breast tissue, but would urge patients to discuss with their health care provider whether additional screening tests may be useful based on that patient's risk.
