House Health Committee Passes Senate Breast Density Bill, Boback Says
HARRISBURG – The House Health Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass
Senate Bill 358, authored by Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Bucks/Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), which would require U.S. Food and Drug Administration facilities to notify women of their breast density, which can impact the effectiveness of traditional mammograms. The bill earned passage in the Senate in June and now goes to the House for consideration.
Identical legislation was introduced by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming). Both the House and Senate legislation require FDA facilities to provide patients with information regarding their breast density, including recommendations to contact the referring physician should the patient have questions or wish to discuss the report.
“I was very happy to see Senator Mensch’s bill pass unanimously out of the House Health Committee,” Boback said. “Mammogram films of dense breasts are harder to read and interpret than those of less-dense breasts. This legislation provides another weapon in our fight against breast cancer.”
A companion bill,
Senate Bill 359, would require insurance coverage of additional screenings needed for women with more dense breasts. That bill remains with the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
“I look forward to House consideration of this very important issue,” Boback said. “Further screening could be a lifesaver for women with higher breast density.”
For more legislative news, go to
www.RepBoback.com.
Representative Karen Boback
117th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Nick Ruffner
717.260.6258
nruffner@pahousegop.com
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