(20 ILCS 2310/2310-345) (was 20 ILCS 2310/55.49)

Sec. 2310-345. Breast cancer; written summary regarding early detection and treatment.

(a) From funds made available for this purpose, the Department shall publish, in layman's language, a standardized written summary outlining methods for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. The summary shall include recommended guidelines for screening and detection of breast cancer through the use of techniques that shall include but not be limited to self-examination, clinical breast exams, and diagnostic radiology.

(b) The summary shall also suggest that women seek mammography services from facilities that are certified to perform mammography as required by the federal Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992.

(c) The summary shall also include the medically viable alternative methods for the treatment of breast cancer, including, but not limited to, hormonal, radiological, chemotherapeutic, or surgical treatments or combinations thereof. The summary shall contain information on breast reconstructive surgery, including, but not limited to, the use of breast implants and their side effects. The summary shall inform the patient of the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and dangers of the various procedures. The summary shall include (i) a statement that mammography is the most accurate method for making an early detection of breast cancer, however, no diagnostic tool is 100% effective, (ii) the benefits of clinical breast exams, and (iii) instructions for performing breast self-examination and a statement that it is important to perform a breast self-examination monthly.

(c-5) The summary shall specifically address the benefits of early detection and review the clinical standard recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society for mammography, clinical breast exams, and breast self-exams.

(c-10) The summary shall also inform individuals that public and private insurance providers shall pay for clinical breast exams as part of an exam, as indicated by guidelines of practice.

(c-15) The summary shall also inform individuals, in layman's terms, of the meaning and consequences of "dense breast tissue" under the guidelines of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System of the American College of Radiology and potential recommended follow-up tests or studies.

(d) In developing the summary, the Department shall consult with the Advisory Board of Cancer Control, the Illinois State Medical Society and consumer groups. The summary shall be updated by the Department every 2 years.

(e) The summaries shall additionally be translated into Spanish, and the Department shall conduct a public information campaign to distribute the summaries to the Hispanic women of this State in order to inform them of the importance of early detection and mammograms.

(f) The Department shall distribute the summary to hospitals, public health centers, physicians, and other health care professionals who are likely to perform or order diagnostic tests for breast disease or treat breast cancer by surgical or other medical methods. Those hospitals, public health centers, physicians, and other health care professionals shall make the summaries available to the public. The Department shall also distribute the summaries to any person, organization, or other interested parties upon request. The summaries may be duplicated by any person, provided the copies are identical to the current summary prepared by the Department.

(g) The summary shall display, on the inside of its cover, printed in capital letters, in bold face type, the following paragraph:

"The information contained in this brochure regarding recommendations for early detection and diagnosis of breast disease and alternative breast disease treatments is only for the purpose of assisting you, the patient, in understanding the medical information and advice offered by your physician. This brochure cannot serve as a substitute for the sound professional advice of your physician. The availability of this brochure or the information contained within is not intended to alter, in any way, the existing physician-patient relationship, nor the existing professional obligations of your physician in the delivery of medical services to you, the patient."

(h) The summary shall be updated when necessary.

(Source: P.A. 98-502, eff. 1-1-14; 98-886, eff. 1-1-15; 99-581, eff. 1-1-17.)