Legislation enacted in Ohio (HB 371) that increases access to breast cancer screenings and modifies the language pertaining to patient notification of dense breast tissue went into effect Sept 23. During the legislative process, Bang Huynh, MD, testified before several committees in the Ohio House and provided written testimony in the Senate Health Committee on behalf of the Ohio Radiological Society.
Under HB 371, the definition of "screening mammography" now includes digital breast tomosynthesis. A definition for "supplemental breast cancer screening" was added and is defined as any additional screening method deemed medically necessary by a treating health care provider for proper breast cancer screening in accordance with applicable American College of Radiology® (ACR®) guidelines, including MRI, ultrasound or molecular breast imaging.
The expanded benefits will cover expenses for supplemental breast cancer screening for an adult woman who meets stipulated criteria, including presence of dense breast tissue or an increased risk of breast cancer due to family history, prior personal history of breast cancer, ancestry, genetic predisposition or other reasons as determined by the woman's health care provider.
The bill also expanded breast density notification language used in template letters to applicable patients:
“Your mammogram shows that your breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue is common and is not abnormal. However, dense breast tissue can make it harder to find cancer on a mammogram and also may increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Because you have dense breast tissue, you could benefit from additional imaging tests such as a screening breast ultrasound or breast magnetic resonance imaging. This information about your breast density is being provided to you to raise your awareness. It is important to continue routine screening mammograms and use this information to speak with your health care provider about your own risk for breast cancer. At that time, ask your health care provider if more screening tests might be useful based on your risk. A report of your mammogram results was sent to your health care provider."
The ACR State Government Relations team tracks hundreds of bills across all 50 states relevant to radiology. Please contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior Government Affairs Specialist, for further information on this or any other state affairs issue.