Must a facility provide the patient with a written lay summary even if the results are incomplete and additional imaging is needed?

Yes. Even if the facility verbally transmits the results to the patient, the facility must provide, within 30 days of the examination, a written lay summary indicating that additional imaging is required. If the results of the follow-up examination are available within 30 days of the initial examination, the facility has the option of combining the results into one lay summary (rather than providing two lay summaries). If one combined lay summary is provided, it must state specifically that it refers to both the initial and the follow-up examinations.

If the results of the follow-up examination are not available within 30 days of the initial examination, the facility must provide two lay summaries, one for the initial examination and one for the follow-up. Each must be provided within 30 days of the examination it covers.