MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Senator(s) Blackwell, Hill, Blackmon, Chassaniol, Branning, Witherspoon, Dawkins, Doty, Parks, Turner-Ford, Dearing, Frazier, Stone

Senate Bill 2006

AN ACT TO REQUIRE PERSONS AND ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE MAMMOGRAPHY SERVICES TO GIVE CERTAIN WRITTEN INFORMATION TO PATIENTS WHOSE MAMMOGRAM DEMONSTRATES DENSE BREAST TISSUE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  As used in this section, the following terms shall be defined as provided in this subsection:

          (a)  "Department" means the State Department of Health.

          (b)  "Dense breast tissue" means heterogeneously or extremely dense breast tissue as defined in nationally recognized guidelines or systems for breast imaging reporting of mammography screening including, but not limited to, the breast imaging reporting and data system established by the American College of Radiology.  This definition may be revised by the department as authorized under subsection (3) of this section.

          (c)  "Mammography" means radiography of the breast for the purpose of enabling a physician to determine the presence, size, location and extent of cancerous or potentially cancerous tissue in the breast.

          (d)  "Radiography" means the making of a film or other record of an internal structure of the body by passing x-rays or gamma rays through the body to act on film or other image receptor.

     (2)  If a patient's mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue, the person or entity that provided the mammography services to the patient shall provide notification to the patient that includes, but is not limited to, the following information, in the summary of the written report of the results of a mammography examination that is sent directly to a patient under 42 USC 263b:

     "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 evaluate the results of your mammogram and may also be associated with an increased risk of 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."

     (3)  If new terms are defined in revised guidelines or systems for breast imaging reporting of mammography screening after July 1, 2017, and the department determines that those new terms are more appropriate for the purposes of the information required to be provided under this section, the department, by regulation, may update the definition of dense breast tissue under subsection (2) of this section to use those new terms.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.