In 2014, the Massachusetts legislature voted to require all providers of mammography services to inform a patient in writing if, after the mammography is interpreted, it is determined that the patient has dense breast tissue. That legislation has now gone
into effect and patients have begun to receive such notifications, and physicians will be fielding inquiries from their patients about the significance of breast density and what to do next.
Similar laws have been enacted in 21 states. Legislation has been introduced in five other states, and is being considered at the federal level as well.
Recent information sent to Massachusetts physicians by the Board of Registration in Medicine, outlines that the written patient notification must include at least the following information:
- that the patient’s mammogram shows dense breast tissue;
- the degree of density apparent and an explanation of that degree of density;
- that dense breast tissue is common and not abnormal, but that dense breast tissue may increase the risk of breast cancer;
- that dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to find cancer on a mammogram and that additional testing may be needed for reliable breast cancer screening;
- that additional screening may be advisable and that the patient should discuss the results of the mammogram with the patient’s referring physician or primary care physician;
- that the patient has the right to discuss the results of the patient’s mammogram with the interpreting radiologist or the referring physician;
- that a report of the patient’s mammogram has been sent to the referring physician and will become part of the patient’s medical record; and
- where the patient can find additional information about dense breast tissue
Physicians may refer patients to the following website, where additional information regarding dense breast tissue, including the levels of breast density, is available at
www.mass.gov/dph/mammographyresults.
Physicians with questions about this requirement should contact the Board of registration in medicine at (781) 867-8200 or
webmaster@medboard.org.
Some Additional Resources
for Patients and Clinicians
