National Breast Density Inform Bill Reintroduced

Supporters of the mandatory inclusion of breast density information in patient mammogram result notifications are making another run at getting a national law passed to require this of all imaging providers. U.S. House Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Cont) and Steve Israel (D-NY) have introduced the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2013, H.R. 3404 — a reintroduction of H.R. 3102, a bill in the 112th Congress that died in committee. The bill currently has 20 co-sponsors, the majority of which are Democrats. Only two Republicans have signed on so far, although that is twice the number of Republicans the previous bill attracted. According to breast density advocacy group D.E.N.S.E. (Density Education National Survivors' Effort), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) has indicated that she will introduce a companion bill in the Senate. Although 13 states have now passed breast density inform laws, a national law is needed so that women will get consistent treatment and information no matter where they receive their mammogram, notes JoAnn Pushkin, co-founder of D.E.N.S.E. and founder of D.E.N.S.E. NY. “The 13 individual Breast Density Inform laws, which patient/advocates fought hard for in state-by-state efforts, feature inconsistent notification requirements about breast density and its associated risks,” she told ImagingBiz. “A federal standard for breast density reporting will address this growing inconsistency and get breast density information into the hands of those who would benefit most – women.”