| Chapter 340 |
| 2024 -- H 7734 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/25/2024 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DENSE BREAST NOTIFICATION AND EDUCATION |
Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Fogarty, Ajello, Boylan, Speakman, Corvese, Potter, Cruz, Morales, and Caldwell |
| Date Introduced: February 28, 2024 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 23-12.9-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.9 entitled "Dense |
| Breast Notification and Education" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 23-12.9-2. Public policy goals — Department of health. |
| The department of health, through the Rhode Island Cancer Council, is authorized and |
| mandated to implement the following public health policy goals as they relate to dense breast |
| notification in Rhode Island. Commencing on October 1, 2014, all All healthcare facilities that |
| perform mammography examinations shall include in the summary of the mammography report to |
| be provided to a patient by mail, electronically, or otherwise, information that identifies the |
| patient’s individual Breast Tissue Classification based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data |
| System established by the American College of Radiology. If the The facility determines that a |
| patient has heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts, the summary of the mammography report |
| shall also include the following mandated FDA National Reporting Standard for breast density |
| patient notification language in the notice to the patient.: |
| “Your mammogram indicates that you have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue is |
| relatively common and is found in about forty percent (40%) of women. The presence of dense |
| tissue can make it more difficult to detect cancers in the breast by mammography because it can |
| hide small abnormalities and may be associated with an increased risk. Hence, you may benefit |
| from supplementary screening tests, which may include a breast ultrasound screening, or a breast |
| MRI examination, or both, depending on your individual risk factors. |
| We are providing this information to raise your awareness of this important factor and to |
| encourage you to discuss your dense breast tissue, as well as other breast cancer risk factors, with |
| your healthcare provider. Together, you can decide which screening options are right for you. |
| A report of your results was sent to your physician. You should contact your physician if |
| you have any questions or concerns about this report.” |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005337/SUB A/2 |
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