| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to breast cancer detection and screening; |
| 3 | creating s. 381.932, F.S.; providing definitions; |
| 4 | establishing a breast cancer early detection and treatment |
| 5 | referral program within the Department of Health; |
| 6 | providing purposes of the program; requiring the |
| 7 | department to provide information regarding breast cancer |
| 8 | and referrals for screening and treatment; requiring the |
| 9 | State Surgeon General to submit a report to the |
| 10 | Legislature; providing an effective date. |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Section 1. Section 381.932, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 15 | to read: |
| 16 | 381.932 Breast cancer early detection and treatment |
| 17 | referral program.-- |
| 18 | (1) For purposes of this section, the term: |
| 19 | (a) "Breast cancer screening and referral services" means |
| 20 | necessary breast cancer screening and referral services for a |
| 21 | procedure intended to treat cancer of the human breast, |
| 22 | including, but not limited to, surgery, radiation therapy, |
| 23 | chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and related medical followup |
| 24 | services. |
| 25 | (b) "Unserved or underserved populations" means women who |
| 26 | are: |
| 27 | 1. At or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level |
| 28 | for individuals; |
| 29 | 2. Without health insurance that covers breast cancer |
| 30 | screenings; and |
| 31 | 3. Nineteen to 64 years of age, inclusive. |
| 32 | (2) There is established, within existing or specific |
| 33 | appropriations, a breast cancer early detection and treatment |
| 34 | referral program within the Department of Health. The purposes |
| 35 | of the program are to: |
| 36 | (a) Promote referrals for the screening, detection, and |
| 37 | treatment of breast cancer among unserved or underserved |
| 38 | populations. |
| 39 | (b) Educate the public regarding breast cancer and the |
| 40 | benefits of early detection. |
| 41 | (c) Provide referral services for persons seeking |
| 42 | treatment. |
| 43 | (3) The program shall include, but not be limited to, the: |
| 44 | (a) Establishment of a public education and outreach |
| 45 | initiative to publicize breast cancer early detection services, |
| 46 | the benefits of early detection of breast cancer, and the |
| 47 | recommended frequency for receiving screening services, |
| 48 | including clinical breast examinations and mammography |
| 49 | guidelines established by the United States Preventive Services |
| 50 | Task Force. |
| 51 | (b) Development of professional education programs that |
| 52 | include information regarding the benefits of the early |
| 53 | detection of breast cancer and the recommended frequency for |
| 54 | receiving a mammogram, as recommended in the most current breast |
| 55 | cancer screening guidelines established by the United States |
| 56 | Preventive Services Task Force. |
| 57 | (c) Establishment of a system to track and monitor all |
| 58 | women screened for breast cancer in the program. The system |
| 59 | shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring abnormal |
| 60 | screening tests, referring women for treatment when needed, and |
| 61 | tracking women to be screened at recommended screening |
| 62 | intervals. |
| 63 | (4) The State Surgeon General shall submit an annual |
| 64 | report to the appropriate substantive committees of the |
| 65 | Legislature. The report shall include, but not be limited to, a |
| 66 | description of the rate of breast cancer morbidity and mortality |
| 67 | in the state and the extent to which women are participating in |
| 68 | breast cancer screening as reported by the Behavioral Risk |
| 69 | Factor Surveillance System. |
| 70 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009. |