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From Maryland Law Mandates Reporting of Breast Arterial Calcification in Mammograms

How could the new Maryland law on BAC reporting affect the state's healthcare oversight?

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Maryland must now enforce a new law requiring mammography centers to report BAC findings. The passage of House Bill 1364 requires Maryland mammography centers to inform patients when a mammogram shows breast arterial calcification (BAC). This new state law, which took effect on October 1, 2026, mandates that centers add a specific notice to the results letter patients already receive under federal rules. The state must now oversee compliance across all covered facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and radiology practices. Furthermore, the Maryland Department of Health retains the authority to update this notice through regulations if medical evidence changes.

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How it reaches Maryland

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The facts so far

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  • House Bill 1364 was sponsored by Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk.medicaldaily.com
  • The law passed both chambers without opposition, 136-0 in the House and 41-0 in the Senate.medicaldaily.com
  • The law took effect on Oct. 1, 2026.medicaldaily.com
  • The law covers Maryland mammography centers, including hospitals, clinics, and radiology practices.medicaldaily.com

Why it matters

The enactment of this law represents a significant regulatory shift in Maryland's public health landscape. By mandating the reporting of BAC, the state is using existing screening procedures to flag women who may benefit from closer attention to their heart risk, aligning with the goal of addressing heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for U.S. women.

This requirement places a new administrative and regulatory burden on the state's healthcare infrastructure. While the law does not require insurers to cover follow-up tests, the state must manage the implementation and oversight of this new reporting standard across all covered mammography centers.

What we don't know yet

  • What specific regulatory guidance will the Maryland Department of Health issue regarding the notice?
  • What are the anticipated administrative costs for mammography centers to comply with the new reporting requirement?

What would change this answer

The Maryland Department of Health issues strict compliance guidelinesThe administrative burden and associated costs for mammography centers across the state will increase significantly.
The state legislature amends the law to mandate insurance coverage for follow-up testsThe financial impact on the state's healthcare system and insurers will become much stronger.

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  • About Diabetes

    Since the new law uses mammography to flag heart risk, how might this reporting requirement interact with existing screening protocols for other cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes?

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The full eventMaryland Law Mandates Reporting of Breast Arterial Calcification in Mammograms Everything aboutMaryland

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