BILL NUMBER:  S7369A

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to information
concerning dense breasts

 PURPOSE :

To ensure that proper information regarding screening, assessment and
diagnosis of dense breasts is available.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

This bill would add a new paragraph (m) to Subdivision 1 of Section
207 of the Public Health Law to ensure that proper information
regarding dense breast tissue is available. This information shall
include, the meaning and potential health consequences of having dense
breast tissue, the impact of dense breast tissue on mammographic
screening for breast cancer, supplemental screening techniques, and
information on how to access other educational websites and resources.

 JUSTIFICATION :

In 2012, legislation was passed by New York State mandating that women
who undergo a mammogram be informed if the test indicates that they
              

have dense breast tissue. This notification recommends that women with
dense breast tissue discuss with their doctor whether supplemental
screening may be appropriate. Unfortunately, there have been cases
where women have not been referred for further screening where it
would have been appropriate given their risk factors and dense breast
classification.

Dense breast tissue may increase a woman's likelihood of having breast
cancer and it also makes it more difficult to identify cancer on a
mammogram. Lumps, both benign and cancerous, appear white in
mammograms of women with dense breast tissue. Supplemental screening
techniques exist and may be appropriate for women with dense breasts.
Therefore, it is necessary to make available information that will
help both the patient and referring physician to make the correct
decision regarding supplemental screening. This legislation will
ensure the 2012 notice provision has its intended effect by educating
and informing the public on consequences, impact and screening that
may be appropriate if a woman has dense breast tissue.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediate.