struction. Compared with the odds of reconstruction 
for Caucasians, the odds of reconstruction for Afri-
can-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians are signifi-
cantly less. 
(11) A 2007 study by Caprice Greenberg, M.D., 
of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and others 
found that Hispanic patients were less likely to re-
ceive reconstruction. This may be because of lan-
guage barriers between the patient and provider. Al-
though 72 percent of patients who primarily spoke 
English went on to receive reconstruction after dis-
cussing it with their providers, no patient in the 
study with a primary language other than English 
went on to receive reconstruction. 
(12) A 2009 study by Alderman and others also 
found that the relationship between race and recon-
struction rates persisted when demographic and clin-
ical factors were controlled for. Minority women are 
significantly less likely than Caucasians to see a 
plastic surgeon before initial surgery, are most likely 
to desire more information about reconstruction, and 
satisfaction is lowest among minority women without 
reconstruction. 
(13) The low use of reconstruction for minori-
ties is not explained by lower demand for the proce-
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dure. Lower health literacy, financial issues, and less 
access to plastic surgeons emerged as barriers to re-
construction in the 2009 Alderman study. These re-
sults suggest that there is a substantial unmet need 
for information, especially among racial and ethnic 
minority groups, regarding reconstruction options 
and coverage required under the Women’s Health 
and Cancer Rights Act of 1998. 
(14) A 2010 study by Warren H. Tseng, M.D., 
and others at the University of California, Davis 
found that patients from rural areas are less likely 
to undergo breast reconstruction following mastec-
tomy for breast cancer than their urban counter-
parts. 
SEC. 3. BREAST RECONSTRUCTION EDUCATION. 
Part V of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 280m) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 399NN–1. BREAST RECONSTRUCTION EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide for 
the planning and implementation of an education cam-
paign to inform breast cancer patients anticipating sur-
gery about the availability and coverage of breast recon-
struction, prostheses, and other options, with a focus on 
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informing patients who are members of racial and ethnic 
minority groups. 
‘‘(b) INFORMATION TO BE DISSEMINATED.— 
‘‘(1) SPECIFIC INFORMATION.—Such campaign 
shall include dissemination of the following informa-
tion: 
‘‘(A) Breast reconstruction is possible at 
the time of breast cancer surgery, or at a later 
time. 
‘‘(B) Prostheses or breast forms may be 
available. 
‘‘(C) Federal law mandates both public 
and private health plans to include coverage of 
breast reconstruction and prostheses. 
‘‘(D) The patient has a right to choose a 
provider of reconstructive care, including the 
potential transfer of care to a surgeon that pro-
vides breast reconstructive care. 
‘‘(E) The patient may opt to undergo 
breast reconstruction some time after the time 
of breast cancer surgery for personal or medical 
reasons, during treatment or after completion 
of all other breast cancer treatments. 
‘‘(2) OTHER INFORMATION.—In addition to the 
information described in paragraph (1), such cam-
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paign may include dissemination of such other infor-
mation (whether developed by the Secretary or by 
other entities), as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(3) REQUIRED
PUBLICATION.—The informa-
tion required to be disseminated under paragraph 
(1) and any information disseminated in accordance 
with paragraph (2) shall be posted on the Internet 
Web sites of relevant Federal agencies, including the 
Office of Women’s Health, the Office of Minority 
Health, and the Office of Rural Health Policy. 
‘‘(4) RESTRICTION.—Such campaign shall not 
specify, or be designed to serve as a tool to limit, the 
health care providers available to patients. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—In developing the information 
to be disseminated under this section, the Secretary shall 
consult with appropriate medical societies and patient ad-
vocates related to breast cancer, breast reconstructive sur-
gery, breast prostheses, and breast forms and with patient 
advocates representing racial and ethnic minority groups 
with a special emphasis on African-American and His-
panic populations. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms ‘racial 
and ethnic minority group’ and ‘Hispanic’ have the mean-
ings given such terms in section 1707. 
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‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act 
of 2015 and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report 
describing the activities carried out under this section dur-
ing the preceding 2 fiscal years, and an evaluation of the 
extent to which such activities have been effective in im-
proving the health and well-being of racial and ethnic mi-
nority groups.’’. 
Æ 
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