Illinois § 10

§ 10.

Breast cancer; duty of providers of mammography services to notify and inform. (a) As used in this Section, "dense breast tissue" means heterogeneously dense or extremely dense tissue as defined in nationally recognized guidelines or systems for breast imaging reporting of mammography screening, including, but not limited to, the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System of the American College of Radiology, and any equivalent new terms, as such guidelines or systems are updated. (b) If a patient's mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue, the provider of mammography services shall provide in a summary of the mammography report sent to the patient in accordance with the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act a notice substantially similar to the following: "Your mammogram indicates you have dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue is normal and identified on mammograms in about 50% of women. Dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to detect cancer on a mammogram and may be associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. Despite these limitations, screening mammograms have been proven to save lives. Continue to have routine screening mammography whether or not additional exams are suggested for you. This information is provided to raise your awareness of the impact of breast density on cancer detection. For further information about dense breast tissue, as well as other breast cancer risk factors, contact your breast imaging health care provider.". (c) A facility that performs mammography may update the language in the notice under subsection (b) to reflect advances in science and technology as long as it continues to notify patients about dense breast tissue and its effect on the accuracy of mammograms and encourages patients to discuss the issue with their health care provider. (d) This Section does not create a duty of care or other legal obligation beyond the duty to provide notice as set forth in this Section. (Source: P.A. 101-555, eff. 1-1-20.)