New Jersey has become the 14th state to pass breast density notification legislation. Effective, May 1, 2014, the law requires all mammography imaging centers to provide patients with breast density information. Members of the RSNJ (Radiology Society of New Jersey), members of the ACOG (American College of Obstetrics Gynecology), the Medical Society of New Jersey and other advocacy groups worked with the state legislature to craft the language in the law. The law mandates health insurers to provide coverage for breast MRI, screening breast ultrasound, and/or tomosynthesis (3D mammography) if the patient’s mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue and/or if the patient has additional breast cancer risk factors. However, the additional testing may be subject to utilization review for medical necessity.
Under the law, the following notification will be required in the mammography report sent to the patient and the patient's health care provider:
“Your mammogram may show that you have dense breast tissue as determined by the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology. Dense breast tissue is very common and is not abnormal. However, in some cases, dense breast tissue can make it harder to find cancer on a mammogram and may also be associated with a risk factor for breast cancer. Discuss this and other risks for breast cancer that pertain to your personal medical history with your health care provider. A report of your results was sent to your health care provider. You may also find more information about breast density at the website of the American College of Radiology, www.acr.org.”
For more information, please visit www.breastdensitynj.com