HB348 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Todd Greeson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Breast Cancer, duty of Department of Public Health to develop and physicians disseminate information to patients regarding treatment options, reconstructive options, and coverage

Summary

HB348 would require the Department of Public Health to create and share a plain-language summary about breast cancer treatment, reconstruction options, and insurance coverage, and would require doctors to notify patients with dense breast tissue about potential problems with mammograms.

What This Bill Does

The Department of Public Health must develop a standardized, plain-language summary explaining treatment options, reconstructive options, and insurance coverage (including second opinions and out-of-network options). Physicians diagnosing breast cancer must provide this summary to patients, and hospitals must provide it for procedures like mastectomy, lymph node dissection, or lumpectomy. The bill also requires physicians to notify patients with dense breast tissue about potential mammogram-related issues, and the summary can be updated as needed while not creating new liability or changing the standard of care.

Who It Affects

• Breast cancer patients who will receive a plain-language information summary about treatment, reconstruction, and insurance coverage at or shortly after diagnosis.
• Physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers in Alabama who must provide the summary to patients, notify patients with dense breast tissue, and ensure the information is available during relevant procedures.

Key Provisions

• The Department of Public Health must develop and disseminate a standardized written summary in plain language covering (1) treatment options (including hormonal, radiological, chemotherapeutic, or surgical methods or combinations), (2) reconstructive surgery options and their risks, (3) coverage and second-opinion provisions (including out-of-network options) under specified insurance laws and guidance to check coverage, and (4) any other information deemed necessary.
• The summary for alternative breast cancer treatments must be provided by a physician to each patient diagnosed with breast cancer, or as soon thereafter as practicable; hospitals performing mastectomy, lymph node dissection, or lumpectomy must also provide the information.
• The standardized summary must be updated as necessary.
• If a mammogram shows dense breast tissue, the physician must provide a notification with a statement explaining density, potential detection challenges, and possible increased risk, and to discuss further screening with the patient’s doctor; dense tissue is defined by nationally recognized guidelines (e.g., ACR BI-RADS).
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor's approval; it does not create a new cause of action or change the standard of care under Alabama law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health