MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY STANDARDS
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2002

SUMMARY

The Congress enacted the Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 (MQSA) with the primary objective to ensure that mammography is safe and reliable and that breast cancer is detected in its most treatable stages. The Act was reauthorized in 1998.

The MQSA program requires that all mammography facilities in the United States meet stringent quality standards, be accredited by an FDA-approved accreditation body, and be inspected annually. The 2002 reauthorization legislation continues all existing requirements.

The legislation extends the authorization of appropriations to FY 2007, in the amount of "such sums as may be necessary."

The legislation would allow a temporary renewal certificate to a facility, not to exceed 90 days, and upon the recommendation of the facility’s accreditation body if the facility through no fault of its own has not completed the accreditation process, or the facility has acquired replacement equipment and cannot meet the accreditation time frames, or the facility has incurred unforeseen circumstances that do not compromise mammography quality.

The legislation directs the General Accounting Office to evaluate (1) the existing demonstration program in current law that allows for less than annual inspections of a limited number of facilities substantially free of incidents of noncompliance with applicable standards; (2) accessibility of mammography services; (3) states acting as both accreditation and certification bodies; and directs the GAO to make recommendations based on these evaluations and other available data that would improve the quality of mammography services for women.

The legislation provides for an Institute of Medicine study of (1) ways to encourage more radiologists to be adequately trained in mammography interpretation; (2) ways to ensure enough adequately trained personnel to ensure the availability and quality of mammography services for women; (3) whether interventional mammography procedures should be subject to MQSA standards; (4) ways to improve continuing medical education such as skills for interpreting mammograms; and (5) other areas to increase the quality of mammography services for women.

Prepared by the Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY STANDARDS REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2002

SUMMARY

MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY STANDARDS
REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2002