2021 -- H 6377 | |
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LC002918 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BREAST CANCER PATIENT NOTIFICATION | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Casey, Casimiro, and Chippendale | |
Date Introduced: May 28, 2021 | |
Referred To: House Health & Human Services | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 23-12.7-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.7 entitled "The |
2 | Breast Cancer Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 23-12.7-3. Program established. |
4 | (a) Through funding from the Rhode Island Cancer Council Women's Cancer Screening |
5 | Program provided through the CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, |
6 | the Rhode Island department of health is required to establish a program of free mammography |
7 | screening according to American Cancer Society standards, and, where required, follow-up, |
8 | diagnostic testing, and case management for women in the state who are uninsured or underinsured. |
9 | (b) The screening program shall: |
10 | (1) Secure radiology facilities to participate in the screening program; |
11 | (2) Pay for screening mammograms; |
12 | (3) Ensure that screening results are sent directly by mail, electronically, or otherwise, to |
13 | the patient in a timely manner; provided, however, that any abnormal result may not be released to |
14 | the patient until approved by the referring provider; |
15 | (4) Provide diagnostic tests as required to diagnose breast cancer; |
16 | (5) Provide case management facilitating appropriate contact to breast surgeons, medical |
17 | oncologists, and radiation oncologists; and |
18 | (6) Provide follow-up support to women who are found to have breast cancer as a result of |
19 | this screening program. |
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1 | (c) The director of the Rhode Island department of health is required to provide a quarterly |
2 | report to the general assembly on the program of free mammography screening, follow up |
3 | diagnostic testing and case management, and public education. An advisory committee concerned |
4 | with advocacy, outreach, and public education shall meet on a quarterly basis and report to the |
5 | director. |
6 | SECTION 2. Section 23-12.9-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.9 entitled "Dense |
7 | Breast Notification and Education" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
8 | 23-12.9-2. Public policy goals -- Department of health. |
9 | The department of health, through the Rhode Island Cancer Council Women's Cancer |
10 | Screening Program with funding provided through the CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer |
11 | Early Detection Program, is authorized and mandated to implement the following public health |
12 | policy goals as they relate to dense breast notification in Rhode Island. Commencing on October |
13 | 1, 2014, all healthcare facilities that perform mammography examinations shall include in the |
14 | summary of the mammography report to be provided to a patient by mail, electronically, or |
15 | otherwise, information that identifies the patient's individual Breast Tissue Classification based on |
16 | the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology. |
17 | If the facility determines that a patient has heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts, the |
18 | summary of the mammography report shall also include the following notice: |
19 | "Your mammogram indicates that you have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue is |
20 | relatively common and is found in about forty percent (40%) of women. The presence of dense |
21 | tissue can make it more difficult to detect cancers in the breast by mammography because it can |
22 | hide small abnormalities and may be associated with an increased risk. Hence, you may benefit |
23 | from supplementary screening tests, which may include a breast ultrasound screening, or a breast |
24 | MRI examination, or both, depending on your individual risk factors. |
25 | We are providing this information to raise your awareness of this important factor and to |
26 | encourage you to discuss your dense breast tissue, as well as other breast cancer risk factors, with |
27 | your healthcare provider. Together, you can decide which screening options are right for you. |
28 | A report of your results was sent to your physician. You should contact your physician if |
29 | you have any questions or concerns about this report." |
30 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BREAST CANCER PATIENT NOTIFICATION | |
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1 | This act would allow for a summary of a patient's mammography report be provided to the |
2 | patient by mail, electronically, or otherwise; provided, that an abnormal result would be provided |
3 | only upon approval by the referring provider. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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