Patients Must Be Notified When Mammogram Indicates Dense Breast Tissue

May 16, 2019

A new law, which took effect Jan. 1, 2019, requires providers of mammography services to notify patients if their mammogram indicates that they have dense breast tissue. 

The law requires patient notification to include a summary of the mammography report, and does not establish additional obligations for mammography services providers. During legislative negotiations, ISMS successfully removed any responsibility on the part of primary care physicians to notify patients of dense breast tissue findings. 

To learn more, access ISMS’ newest Issue Brief, Dense Breast Notification: New Responsibilities for Physicians in Illinois.* This resource covers what is meant by dense breast tissue, the law’s requirement for notification, insurance coverage, and the link between dense breast tissue and cancer. 

If you have questions, please contact our advocacy team by calling 800-782-4767 ext. 1470, or by sending an email.

*As a member benefit, this Issue Brief is password protected.

If you need to request a username and password, contact online support at 888-476-7776 or onlinehelp@isms.org between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. After-hours requests are answered promptly the next business day. You may also register online or retrieve your username or password.