BILL NUMBER: SB 173	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 4, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 3, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 30, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Simitian
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Alquist)

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2011

   An act to add Section 687 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to healing arts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 173, as amended, Simitian. Healing arts: mammograms.
   Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975
(Knox-Keene Act), provides for the licensure and regulation of health
care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care.
Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of health
insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law provides for
the regulation of health care practitioners, as defined. Existing law
requires health care service plan contracts, except specialized
health care service plan contracts, and certain health insurance
policies to provide a certain level of coverage for mammograms and
breast cancer screening and diagnosis, as specified.  Existing
federal law requires a written report of the results of each
mammography examination and requires a summary of that report to be
sent to the patient within a specified time period. 
   This bill would require  , under specified circumstances,
 a health care practitioner who performs a mammography
examination under those provisions to include in the 
mammography report specified information and, when applicable,
  summary of the written report sent to the patient
 a specified notice on breast density.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 687 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   687.   (a)    A health care
practitioner who performs a mammography examination pursuant to
Section 1367.65 of the Health and Safety Code or Section 10123.81 of
the Insurance Code  shall include in the mammography report
information about breast density, based on the Breast Imaging
Reporting and Data System established by the American College of
Radiology. When applicable, the report shall also include the
following notice:   shall, if a patient has  
heterogeneously dense breasts or extremely dense breasts based on the
Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System established by the American
College of Radiology, include in the summary of the written report
  sent to the patient, as required by federal law, the
following notice: 

    "If   "Because  your mammogram
demonstrates that you have dense breast tissue, which could hide
small abnormalities, you might benefit from supplementary screening
tests, depending on your individual risk factors. A report of your
mammography results, which contains information about your breast
density, has been sent to your physician's office and you should
contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about
this report."

   (b) "Health care practitioner" means a person licensed or
certified pursuant to this division or licensed pursuant to the
Osteopathic Act.