Substitute Senate Bill No. 97

Public Act No. 12-150

AN ACT CONCERNING GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BREAST MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 38a-503 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) (1) Each individual health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (10), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide benefits for mammographic examinations to any woman covered under the policy [which] that are at least equal to the following minimum requirements: (A) A baseline mammogram for any woman who is thirty-five to thirty-nine years of age, inclusive; and (B) a mammogram every year for any woman who is forty years of age or older.

(2) Such policy shall provide additional benefits for:

(A) Comprehensive ultrasound screening [and magnetic resonance imaging] of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology or if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice registered nurse; and

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging of an entire breast or breasts in accordance with guidelines established by the American Cancer Society. [or the American College of Radiology. ]

(b) Benefits under this section shall be subject to any policy provisions that apply to other services covered by such policy.

(c) [On and after October 1, 2009, each] Each mammography report provided to a patient shall include information about breast density, based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology. Where applicable, such report shall include the following notice: "If your mammogram demonstrates that you have dense breast tissue, which could hide small abnormalities, you might benefit from supplementary screening tests, which can include a breast ultrasound screening or a breast MRI examination, or both, depending on your individual risk factors. A report of your mammography results, which contains information about your breast density, has been sent to your physician's office and you should contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about this report. ".

Sec. 2. Section 38a-530 of the 2012 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) (1) Each group health insurance policy providing coverage of the type specified in subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (11) and (12) of section 38a-469 delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state shall provide benefits for mammographic examinations to any woman covered under the policy [which] that are at least equal to the following minimum requirements: (A) A baseline mammogram for any woman who is thirty-five to thirty-nine years of age, inclusive; and (B) a mammogram every year for any woman who is forty years of age or older.

(2) Such policy shall provide additional benefits for:

(A) Comprehensive ultrasound screening [and magnetic resonance imaging] of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology or if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice registered nurse; and

(B) Magnetic resonance imaging of an entire breast or breasts in accordance with guidelines established by the American Cancer Society. [or the American College of Radiology. ]

(b) Benefits under this section shall be subject to any policy provisions that apply to other services covered by such policy.

(c) [On and after October 1, 2009, each] Each mammography report provided to a patient shall include information about breast density, based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System established by the American College of Radiology. Where applicable, such report shall include the following notice: "If your mammogram demonstrates that you have dense breast tissue, which could hide small abnormalities, you might benefit from supplementary screening tests, which can include a breast ultrasound screening or a breast MRI examination, or both, depending on your individual risk factors. A report of your mammography results, which contains information about your breast density, has been sent to your physician's office and you should contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns about this report. ".