Mammography Quality Standards Act

The overall impact of the Mammography Quality Standards Act on mammography services has been positive, increasing the adherence of mammography facilities to accepted quality assurance standards and improving the quality of X-ray images. The impact on early detection of breast cancer is less clear. Improving the quality of mammography images should lead to more accurate interpretation by doctors and, therefore, to more early detection of breast cancer. However, neither data nor research methodologies are now in place to clearly establish these links. Progress is being made to address these problems so that improvements in cancer outcomes can be measured. Regarding concerns that the additional burden of the act's quality assurance standards could lead facilities to close rather than to upgrade, GAO found no indication that the act has caused access problems.

GAO noted that: (1) it found that the overall impact of MQSA on mammography services has been positive, in that it has increased mammography facilities' adherence to accepted quality assurance standards and improved the quality of X-ray images; (2) the impact on early detection of breast cancer is less clear; (3) improving the quality of mammography images should lead to more accurate interpretation by physicians and, therefore, to improved early detection of breast cancer; (4) however, neither data nor research methodologies are now in place to clearly establish these links; (5) progress is being made to remedy these problems so that improvements in cancer outcomes can be measured; and (6) regarding concerns that the additional burden of MQSA quality assurance standards could result in facilities deciding to close rather than to upgrade, GAO found no indication that MQSA has caused access problems.