Report Title:

Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage; Colonoscopy

 

Description:

Mandates health insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening and that the insurer provide the insured with information about the risks of undiagnosed colorectal cancer and encourage the insured to consult with their physician about screening options.

 

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

823

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 431, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to article 10A to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§431:10A-     Colon cancer screening coverage.  (a)  Each policy of accident and health or sickness insurance providing coverage for health care, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening by any of the methods specified by the 2008 colorectal cancer screening guideline prepared by the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology, which include the following:  colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double contract barium enema, CT colonoscopy (virtual colonoscopy), fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and stool DNA test (sDNA).

     (b)  Beginning March 1, 2010, a health care coverage provider shall include information in the policy about the risk associated with undiagnosed colorectal cancer and encouraging the insured to consult with the insured's physician about available screening options.  For the purposes of section 432D-23, the requirement under this subsection shall be considered one of the benefits of coverage."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to article 1 to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§432:1-     Colon cancer screening coverage.  (a)  All individual and group hospital and medical service contracts providing health care coverage shall provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening by any of the methods specified by the revised 2008 screening guideline, including colonoscopy every ten years beginning at age fifty.

     (b)  Beginning March 1, 2010, all health insurance providers in Hawaii shall inform their insured of the risk associated with undiagnosed colorectal cancer and encourage the insured to consult with the insured's physician about available screening options."

     SECTION 3.  Section 432D-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§432D-23  Required provisions and benefits.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued in the [State] state after January 1, 1995, by health maintenance organizations pursuant to this chapter, shall include benefits provided in sections 431:10-212, 431:10A-115, 431:10A-115.5, 431:10A-116, 431:10A-116.5, 431:10A-116.6, 431:10A-119, 431:10A-120, [and] 431:10A-121, and 431:10A-   , and chapter 431M."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval and shall apply to policies, contracts, and plans of health insurance issued or renewed after January 1, 2010

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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