What's happening
This bill requires health insurance policies in New York to cover diagnostic colorectal cancer screening, including digital rectal exams, for at-risk individuals.
Why it matters
Targets early detection for high-risk groups. By mandating coverage for diagnostic colorectal cancer screenings (including digital rectal exams) for people with a family history, personal history of polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease, the bill aims to catch cancer earlier in those most at risk.
Extends coverage to asymptomatic individuals over 50. Insurance policies must cover annual screenings for asymptomatic adults age 50 and older, as well as those age 40 and older with additional risk factors, potentially increasing early diagnoses and improving survival rates.
Reduces financial barriers to screening. Although deductibles and coinsurance may still apply, the requirement for insurance to cover these screenings could make it easier for individuals to access potentially life-saving diagnostic tests without facing full out-of-pocket costs.
Standardizes insurance obligations. By amending multiple sections of the insurance law, the bill ensures that most types of health insurance offered in New York will uniformly include this preventative benefit, reducing gaps in coverage and promoting public health consistency.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cover Colon Cancer Screening
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
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 Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1684
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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.
LBD05021-01-9
S. 1684 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to providing for health insurance coverage for diagnostic screening for colorectal cancer
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to require insurance coverage for diagnostic screenings for colorectal cancer.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends section 3216 of the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 11-b to subsection (i) which provides that every insurance policy provides medical coverage for the screening of colorectal cancer.
Section 2. amends section 3221 of the insurance law by adding a new paragraph 11-b to subsection (1) which provides that every insurance policy provides medical coverage for the screening of colorectal cancer.
Section 3. amends section 4303 of the insurance law by adding a new subsection (z-2) which provides that upon the prescription by a health care provider the following screening methods for colorectal will be covered by insurance; standard diagnostic testing, annual diagnostic examination for those age fifty and over or forty and over for individ- uals with a family history of colorectal cancer.
Section 2. is the enacting clause.
Justification
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men in the United States and the third leading cause for women. In 2017, it is expected to cause an estimated 50,260 deaths.
Colorectal cancer is highly preventable with regular screening and simple prevention techniques. For most Americans, standard screening with sigmoidoscopy and checking the stool for blood should begin at the age of 50.
Colorectal cancer is a disease in which the cells of the colon or rectum become abnormal and begin to divide without control, forming a mass called a polyp.
The implementation of such screenings as are outlined in this bill would aid in reducing the number of individuals who develop colorectal cancer while also reducing the number of deaths due to the disease.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which this shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.