Requiring health insurance coverage of colorectal cancer screening and granting rule-making authority

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill requires health insurance policies and plans that cover any diagnostic or surgical procedures to cover colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests for any insured or enrollee who is 50 years of age or older or any insured or enrollee who is under 50 years of age and at high risk for colorectal cancer. The bill requires the commissioner of insurance, in consultation with the secretary of health services, to promulgate rules that specify guidelines for the colorectal cancer screening that must be covered, and that specify factors for determining whether an individual is at high risk for colorectal cancer, in accordance with the guidelines of the American Cancer Society for colorectal cancer screening.

The coverage requirement applies to both individual and group health insurance policies and plans, including defined network plans and cooperative sickness care associations; to health care plans offered by the state to its employees, including a self-insured plan; and to self-insured health plans of counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts. The requirement specifically does not apply to limited-scope benefit plans or to policies covering only certain specified diseases other than cancer. The required coverage may be subject to any limitations, exclusions, or cost-sharing provisions that apply generally under the policy or plan.

Who's behind it

22 representatives are its authors⁠. 20 are Democrats, 1 is a Independent and 1 is a Republican.

12 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

What it would cost

State agencies filed a cost estimate. Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

• Fiscal Estimate From OCI