The Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992

To the Editor. —We wish to inform readers of legislation designed to improve breast cancer detection. The Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1992 was passed by the US Congress in October 1992 as Public Law 102-539, an amendment to the Public Health Service Act. This bill originated from the Senate Committee of Labor and Human Resources, Subcommittee on Aging, with collaboration from the American College of Radiology and the National Cancer Institute. After October 1,1994, only facilities accredited by a designee of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services may perform mammography. This accreditation process specifies that (1) equipment used be dedicated to mammography; (2) personnel performing mammography be licensed or certified; (3) physicians interpreting mammograms be certified; and (4) mammographic and film-processing equipment be inspected by a medical physicist at least annually. This law provides for an advisory committee of health professionals to assess quality standards