Oct. 25, 2018
HARRISBURG – Patients may get the results of their diagnostic imaging tests sooner under legislation that was signed by the governor on Wednesday, said Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks), sponsor of the proposal.
House Bill 1884 – now
Act 112 of 2018 -- applies to diagnostic imaging services which are performed on an outpatient basis, and requires that the imaging service entity directly notify the patient or his/her designee if the entity believes a significant abnormality may exist. The notice will include basic information such as ordering physician and date, along with a statement that the patient is receiving the notice as a result of a determination by their diagnostic imaging service that further discussion of test results is warranted, and it is recommended that they contact their health care practitioner to discuss their results as soon as possible.
“Test results belong to patients and are provided upon request by law. However, patients should not have to ask for a summary of their results,” Quinn said. “Sadly, I personally know two people who would likely be alive today if their results were communicated to them. Both died of cancer, which most likely would have been curable, if it had been detected in early diagnostic testing. For whatever reason, these patients were not told of their results following the early testing. Communication of the diagnosis is as important as the diagnosis itself.”
Specifically, the legislation will require that a patient receive results when in the judgment of the testing service that a significant abnormality may exist. A significant abnormality is a finding which requires follow-up medical care within three months of the tests being conducted. Receiving the summary will be optional for the patient, and it may be sent electronically by email, fax or included in a patient’s electronic medical record. This will not apply to situation in which an individual is being treated on an in-patient basis, in an emergency room or for routine obstetrical ultrasounds or diagnostic radiographs.
“Providing patients with the summary of test results when an abnormality presents will enable patients to be proactive in their health care, and provide a safety net in the event of communication breakdown,” Quinn added.
Representative Marguerite Quinn
143rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
(717) 705-2094
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
RepQuinn.net /
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