ATLANTA – House Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington) today announced that House Bill 62, or “Margie’s Law,” was signed by Governor Brian Kemp on Thursday, May 2, 2019. HB 62 will require health care facilities that conduct mammogram screenings to notify a patient if they are found to have dense breast tissue.
“House Bill 62 was championed by Effingham County’s very own Margie Singleton who is bravely battling cancer herself,” said Majority Leader Burns. “Margie’s law will help save countless lives, and I am incredibly proud of Margie’s efforts on behalf of women and men across Georgia.”
In addition to requiring mammography examiners to notify patients when dense breast tissue is found, this bill recognizes the fact that men and women with dense breast tissue are four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer and should be empowered to work with their health care providers to better prevent and fight this dangerous disease. While dense breast tissue is common and not always abnormal, it can make it more difficult to detect cancer through a mammogram and can increase the risk for breast cancer. 2D and 3D mammography screenings can miss the presence of cancer in patients with dense breast tissue one out of every two times. For this reason, the bill also encourages women to speak with their health care provider about whether other supplemental tests such as an ultrasound or MRI in addition to a mammogram may be appropriate, based on their individual risk.
Inspired by a native of House District 159, HB 62 adds Georgia to join 30 other states that have passed similar legislation empowering women to become active participants in their health care.
For more information about House Bill 62, please click here.
Representative Jon Burns represents the citizens of District 159, which includes Screven County and portions of Bulloch and Effingham counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and currently serves as House Majority Leader. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Economic Development & Tourism, Ethics, Game, Fish & Parks, Rules and Transportation committees.
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