BILL NUMBER: SB 791	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 25, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Simitian
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Alquist)
   (Coauthor: Senator Runner)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to add and repeal Section 123222.3 of the Health and Safety
Code, relating to mammograms.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 791, Simitian. Health care: mammograms.
   Existing law requires specified information to be sent to patients
regarding their health care. 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, from April 1, 2012, until January 1, 2018, would
require, under specified circumstances, a health facility at which a
mammography examination is performed to include in the summary of the
written report sent to the patient a specified notice on breast
density.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 123222.3 is added to the Health and Safety
Code, to read:
   123222.3.  (a) A health facility at which a mammography
examination is performed shall, if a patient is categorized by the
facility as having heterogeneously dense breasts or extremely dense
breasts, based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System
established by the American College of Radiology, include in the
summary of the written report that is sent to the patient, as
required by federal law, the following notice:

   "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 notice."

   (b) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2012.
   (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create or impose
liability on a health care facility for failing to comply with the
requirements of this section prior to April 1, 2012.
   (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends
that date.