Breast density notification bill introduced in Ohio

Legislation that would require healthcare providers to notify women of their breast density status has been introduced in Ohio.

SB 392 would "require a physician interpreting a mammogram who determines that the patient has dense breast tissue to specify this in the mammography report sent to the patient." The legislation would require the inclusion of the following statement in the report:

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. If you specified a physician to receive the report of your mammography results, the report has been sent to your physician's office. Contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about dense breast tissue or your mammography results.

Similar legislation was most recently enacted in California and is also in place in Connecticut, Texas, Virginia, and New York. Legislation is also being considered in a dozen other states and in Congress.