What's happening
This bill requires health insurance policies in New York to cover the HALO breast pap test for breast cancer risk detection when recommended by a medical professional.
Why it matters
Expands access to newer breast cancer risk detection technology. by requiring insurers to cover the HALO breast pap test, potentially allowing more women to benefit from early risk assessment tools beyond traditional mammograms.
Could reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients. who are recommended for the HALO test, since coverage would be mandated and subject only to standard deductibles and coinsurance, making this screening option more financially accessible.
Empowers healthcare providers. (physicians and certified nurse practitioners) to utilize additional methods for breast cancer risk assessment, possibly leading to earlier intervention for high-risk patients.
May impact insurance premiums and healthcare spending. if the HALO test is widely adopted, as insurers will need to cover the costs of this additional screening procedure for eligible patients.
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Who cares
Women with covered health insurance
The bill would require coverage for the HALO breast pap test to assess breast cancer risk when recommended by a physician or certified nurse practitioner, though deductibles and coinsurance could apply.
Health insurers and health service corporations
Those providing hospital, surgical or medical coverage would have to cover the test under affected policies and contracts.
Physicians and certified nurse practitioners
Their recommendation would trigger the bill’s coverage requirement for the test, which collects nipple aspirate fluid for cytological evaluation.
State insurance superintendent
The bill would allow annual deductibles and coinsurance deemed appropriate by the superintendent and consistent with other benefits within the policy.
Headline styles
Cover Breast Cancer Risk Test
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
8 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to insurance
- Referred to insurance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
717
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, ROZIC, COLTON, JAFFEE, COOK, SEPULVEDA, RAIA, MONTESANO, CURRAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance
AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage for the HALO breast pap test to detect risk of developing breast 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 34 to read as follows:
(34) (A) Every policy which provides coverage for hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage shall provide coverage for the HALO breast pap test to detect a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, when such test is recommended by a physician or certified nurse practitioner.
(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.
(C) For purposes of this section, "HALO breast pap test" means a procedure that entails collection of nipple aspirate fluid for cytological evaluation.
§ 2. Subsection (l) of section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new paragraph 20 to read as follows:
(20) (A) A group or blanket accident or health insurance policy or issuing a group blanket policy for delivery in this state which provides coverage for hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage shall provide coverage for the HALO breast pap test to detect a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, when such test is recommended by a physician or certified nurse practitioner.
(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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03555-01-7
A. 717 2
(C) For purposes of this section, "HALO breast pap test" means a procedure that entails collection of nipple aspirate fluid for cytological evaluation.
§ 3. Section 4303 of the insurance law is amended by adding a new subsection (vv) to read as follows:
(vv)(1) A medical expense indemnity corporation, a hospital service corporation or a health service corporation which provides coverage for hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage shall provide coverage for the HALO breast pap test to detect a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, when such test is recommended by a physician or certified nurse practitioner.
(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.
(3) For purposes of this section, "HALO breast pap test" means a procedure that entails collection of nipple aspirate fluid for cytological evaluation.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall apply to all policies or contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on and after such effective date.
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.