What's happening
This bill requires health insurance policies in New York to cover diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer, including annual exams for at-risk individuals.
Why it matters
Targets high-risk individuals. by ensuring those with a family history of colorectal cancer, personal history of polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease have access to diagnostic screenings at any age, potentially catching cancers earlier in vulnerable populations.
Expands routine screening. to include annual exams for people over 50 (and for those over 40 with family history or other risk factors), addressing gaps in preventive care and potentially reducing late-stage cancer diagnoses.
Standardizes insurance requirements. across all major health policies in New York, reducing disparities in access to colorectal cancer screening based on insurance type or provider.
Allows for cost sharing. (deductibles and coinsurance) similar to other medical benefits, which could affect out-of-pocket costs for patients but also ensures insurers can manage plan costs while expanding coverage.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Cover Colon Cancer Screenings
In Senate Committee · Insurance · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6740
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 16, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing for health insurance coverage for diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subsection (i) of section 3216 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 11-b to read as follows:
(11-b) (A) Every policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state which provides medical coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician's office and every policy which provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall provide, upon the prescription of a health care provider legally authorized to prescribe under title eight of the education law, the following coverage for diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer:
(i) standard diagnostic testing including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination at any age for people having a family history of colorectal cancer or a personal history of polyps or inflammatory bowel disease; and
(ii) an annual standard diagnostic examination including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination for people age fifty and over who are asymptomatic and for people age forty and over with a family history of colorectal cancer or other colorectal cancer risk factors.
(B) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 11-b to read as follows:
(11-b) (A) Every policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state which provides medical coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician's office and every policy which provides major
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08316-01-7
A. 6740 2
medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall provide, upon the prescription of a health care provider legally authorized to prescribe under title eight of the education law, the following coverage for diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer:
(i) standard diagnostic testing including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination at any age for people having a family history of colorectal cancer or a personal history of polyps or inflammatory bowel disease; and
(ii) an annual standard diagnostic examination including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination for people age fifty and over who are asymptomatic and for people age forty and over with a family history of colorectal cancer or other colorectal cancer risk factors.
(B) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (z-2) to read as follows:
(z-2) (1) Every policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state which provides medical coverage that includes coverage for physician services in a physician's office and every policy which provides major medical or similar comprehensive-type coverage shall provide, upon the prescription of a health care provider legally authorized to prescribe under title eight of the education law, the following coverage for diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer:
(A) standard diagnostic testing including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination at any age for people having a family history of colorectal cancer or a personal history of polyps or inflammatory bowel disease; and
(B) an annual standard diagnostic examination including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination for people age fifty and over who are asymptomatic and for people age forty and over with a family history of colorectal cancer or other colorectal cancer risk factors.
(2) Such coverage may be subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance as may be deemed appropriate by the superintendent and as are consistent with those established for other benefits within a given policy.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.