North Carolina Breast Density Law Headed to Governor

The House of Representatives of the North Carolina legislature has approved HB 467 the Breast Density Notification and Awareness Act, which was previously approved by the state’s Senate. If signed into law by Governor Patrick Lloyd "Pat" McCrory, North Carolina will be come the 12th state to require mammography providers to inform patients about their breast density status. The law would become effective on January 1, 2014. It instructs providers that women found to have heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts as determined by the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology to be sent the following text along with their mammography results:

Your mammogram indicates that you may have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue is relatively common and is found in more than forty percent (40%) of women. The presence of dense tissue may make it more difficult to detect abnormalities in the breast and may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. We are providing this information to raise your awareness of this important factor and to encourage you to talk with your physician about this and other breast cancer risk factors. Together, you can decide which screening options are right for you. A report of your results was sent to your physician.

The House vote to send the bill to the governor was 113 in favor, 0 opposed and 7 not voting.