State Senator Joseph J. Crisco, Jr.
April 29, 2008
Hartley and Crisco Gain Senate Approval of Bill to Help With Early Detection of Breast Cancer
The Senate unanimously approved an important health care bill that focuses on breast density and is designed to help with the early detection of breast cancer. The measure was introduced by Senator Joseph Crisco (D Woodbridge), the co-chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and Senator Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury), the vice chair of the committee.
S.B. 172 An Act Requiring Communication of Mammographic Breast Density Information to Patients requires that a written mammography report give to a patient must include information about breast density based on the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. The report must include the following: Your mammogram does show that you have significantly dense breast tissue, and a follow-up breast ultrasound has been suggested. A report of your mammography results was sent to your health care provider.
Another section of the bill provides that the Commissioner of Public Health report to the General Assembly in regards to clinical trials or other research pertaining to the use of ultrasound screening of dense breast tissue, or any other major development that may change the protocol established by this legislation.
The bill will expand An Act Concerning Health Insurance Coverage for Breast Cancer Screening that took effect in 2006. Senators Crisco and Hartley also supported this measure that requires health insurance policies to provide benefits for a comprehensive ultrasound screening if a mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue or if a woman is believed to be at an increased risk for breast cancer.
"This is part of our continuing effort to upgrade our health care system in Connecticut by providing women with the information if they have dense breast tissue," said Senator Crisco. "This will lead to the early detection of breast cancer for certain women and that will help save lives."
"Outlining a procedure to inform women if they have dense breast tissue is the right thing to do, since it will help detect breast cancer at its earliest stages," said Senator Hartley. "An informed health care consumer is without a doubt a healthier consumer."
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