On June 24, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved, by voice vote, a bill (H.R. 4555) to reauthorize the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) through FY2007. The Health Subcommittee approved the measure on June 15 (see The Source, 6/18/04). The Senate approved a bill (S. 1879) to reauthorize the MQSA for two years on February 3 (see The Source, 3/6/04).
First enacted in 1992, the MQSA sought to correct wide variations in the quality of mammography screening around the country. The law established uniform equipment, personnel, and quality standards; required mammography facilities to employ qualified physicians to interpret mammogram results; and created a quality assurance and control program.
Sponsored by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), H.R. 4555 would allow the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a temporary renewal certificate to a mammography facility seeking reaccreditation. The secretary also would be permitted to issue a provisional certificate to a facility allowing it to conduct examinations for educational purposes while an accrediting agency is on the premises.
During consideration of the bill, the committee approved, by voice vote, an amendment by Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-FL) that would require that health care officials with clinical practice and research experience related to mammography be included on the National Mammography Quality Assurance Advisory Committee. Under the amendment, the HHS secretary would appoint at least four members from national breast cancer or consumer health organizations and at least two members from the mammography equipment industry.
