The bill amends Section 23-12.9-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.9 entitled "Dense Breast Notification and Education." It revises the public health policy goals related to dense breast notification in Rhode Island. The amendment removes the requirement for the Department of Health to work through the Rhode Island Cancer Council and eliminates the specific start date of October 1, 2014, for healthcare facilities to include breast tissue classification information in mammography reports. The bill mandates that all healthcare facilities performing mammography examinations must provide patients with their individual Breast Tissue Classification based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology.

Furthermore, the bill changes the language that must be included in the summary of the mammography report when a patient has heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts. It removes the previous detailed notification about the implications of dense breast tissue and the encouragement for patients to discuss screening options with their healthcare provider. Instead, the bill requires the inclusion of the mandated FDA National Reporting Standard for breast density patient notification language in the notice to the patient. The specific language that was deleted is no longer included in the bill. The act will take effect upon passage, and it aims to align the notice requirement to patients with the mandated FDA national reporting standards following a mammogram.

Statutes affected:
2609  SUB A: 23-12.9-2
2609: 23-12.9-2