What's happening
This bill requires insurance policies in New York to cover the HALO breast pap test for breast cancer risk if recommended by a clinician.
Why it matters
Expands access to an emerging breast cancer risk test. By requiring insurance coverage for the HALO breast pap test when recommended by a clinician, the bill could make this newer, less invasive risk assessment tool more widely available to women, potentially leading to earlier identification of those at higher risk for breast cancer.
Potentially reduces out-of-pocket costs for patients. Mandating insurance coverage (with deductibles and coinsurance set at levels similar to other covered services) means women would be less likely to have to pay the full cost of this test themselves, improving affordability for those seeking advanced screening options.
May influence clinical practice and screening guidelines. Insurance coverage can encourage more clinicians to offer or recommend the HALO breast pap test, and may lead to increased data collection on its effectiveness, potentially shaping future breast cancer screening protocols and early detection strategies.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Cover Breast Cancer Risk Test
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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
2346
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, ROZIC, COLTON, JAFFEE, COOK, RAIA, MONTESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARNWELL -- 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 35 to read as follows:
(35) (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 21 to read as follows:
(21) (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.
LBD00898-01-9
A. 2346 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 (ss) to read as follows:
(ss)(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.