Ariz. governor signs breast density bill into law

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a breast density bill (SB 1225) into law on April 17, making the state the 15th in the U.S. to enact breast density legislation. The law will become effective October 1.

Passage of the law, which requires reporting of dense breast tissue revealed at mammography, was led by Scottsdale radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier and several advocates, including Are You Dense Advocacy, the organization reported.

Are You Dense Advocacy is working with advocates in 13 other states with density reporting laws in the 2014 legislative session, the organization said. A federal density reporting bill was introduced in October 2013 in the U.S. House of Representatives with plans for a Senate companion bill introduction this spring.

Connecticut became the first state to require reporting with passage of its breast density law in 2009.