Bill Text: HI SB2599 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage; Colonoscopy
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-06-01 - (H) Act 157, on 6/1/2010 (Gov. Msg. No. 374). [SB2599 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2599-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2599 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to provide for the early detection of colorectal cancer by requiring health insurers to cover colorectal cancer screening, including screening colonoscopy, every ten years.
The legislature finds that this is a cost-effective measure as the cost of mandated coverage for screening is negligible compared to the cost of treating colorectal cancer after a delayed detection. According to studies conducted by the American Cancer Society, the cost of treating colorectal cancer when it is detected early is between $30,000 and $35,000. However, if it is detected late, the average cost of treatment is in excess of $100,000. In comparison, the per-person cost of providing a colonoscopy every ten years is fifty-five cents per month.
The legislature finds that the state auditor's sunrise study on the advisability of mandating insurance coverage for colorectal cancer screening found that coverage should be required for preventive and early detection screening modalities, including screening colonoscopy. The legislature notes that current standards of care do not indicate the use of screening colonoscopy for persons over age seventy-five. It is the intent of this measure that alternate screening mechanisms be made available to persons over age seventy-five according to United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. The legislature further notes that the auditor found that mandatory coverage of screening, including screening colonoscopy, for colorectal cancer would be beneficial for the majority of Hawaii's insured population of average-risk adults who are currently unable to select screening every ten years by colonoscopy or other methods.
SECTION 2. Chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to article 1, part VI to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§432:1‑ Colonoscopy coverage. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the screening of colorectal cancer by colonoscopy and any other screening modalities that have received a grade of A or B from the United States Preventive Services Task Force."
SECTION 3. Chapter 432, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to article 2, part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§432:2‑ Colonoscopy coverage. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement for hospital, medical, or nursing benefits, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the screening of colorectal cancer by colonoscopy and any other screening modalities that have received a grade of A or B from the United States Preventive Services Task Force."
SECTION 4. Section 431:10A-116, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§431:10A-116 Coverage for specific services. Every person insured under a policy of accident and health or sickness insurance delivered or issued for delivery in this State shall be entitled to the reimbursements and coverages specified below:
(1) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, whenever a policy, contract, plan, or agreement provides for reimbursement for any visual or optometric service, which is within the lawful scope of practice of a duly licensed optometrist, the person entitled to benefits or the person performing the services shall be entitled to reimbursement whether the service is performed by a licensed physician or by a licensed optometrist. Visual or optometric services shall include eye or visual examination, or both, or a correction of any visual or muscular anomaly, and the supplying of ophthalmic materials, lenses, contact lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses, and appurtenances thereto;
(2) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary,
for all policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued on or after May 30,
1974, whenever provision is made for reimbursement or indemnity for any service
related to surgical or emergency procedures, which is within the lawful scope
of practice of any practitioner licensed to practice medicine in this State,
reimbursement or indemnification under [such] the policy, contract,
plan, or agreement shall not be denied when such services are performed by a
dentist acting within the lawful scope of the dentist's license;
(3) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, whenever the policy provides reimbursement or payment for any service, which is within the lawful scope of practice of a psychologist licensed in this State, the person entitled to benefits or performing the service shall be entitled to reimbursement or payment, whether the service is performed by a licensed physician or licensed psychologist;
(4) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued on or after February 1, 1991, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage, but including policies issued by companies subject to chapter 431, article 10A, part II and chapter 432, article 1 shall provide coverage for screening by low-dose mammography for occult breast cancer as follows:
(A) For women forty years of age and older, an annual mammogram; and
(B) For a woman of any age with a history of breast cancer or whose mother or sister has had a history of breast cancer, a mammogram upon the recommendation of the woman's physician.
The services provided in this paragraph are subject to any coinsurance provisions that may be in force in these policies, contracts, plans, or agreements.
For the purpose of this paragraph, the term "low‑dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including but not limited to the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, screens, films, and cassettes, with an average radiation exposure delivery of less than one rad mid-breast, with two views for each breast. An insurer may provide the services required by this paragraph through contracts with providers; provided that the contract is determined to be a cost-effective means of delivering the services without sacrifice of quality and meets the approval of the director of health;
(5) (A) (i) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, whenever a policy, contract, plan, or agreement provides coverage for the children of the insured, that coverage shall also extend to the date of birth of any newborn child to be adopted by the insured; provided that the insured gives written notice to the insurer of the insured's intent to adopt the child prior to the child's date of birth or within thirty days after the child's birth or within the time period required for enrollment of a natural born child under the policy, contract, plan, or agreement of the insured, whichever period is longer; provided further that if the adoption proceedings are not successful, the insured shall reimburse the insurer for any expenses paid for the child; and
(ii) Where notification has not been received by the insurer prior to the child's birth or within the specified period following the child's birth, insurance coverage shall be effective from the first day following the insurer's receipt of legal notification of the insured's ability to consent for treatment of the infant for whom coverage is sought; and
(B) When the insured is a member of a health maintenance organization (HMO), coverage of an adopted newborn is effective:
(i) From the date of birth of the adopted newborn when the newborn is treated from birth pursuant to a provider contract with the health maintenance organization, and written notice of enrollment in accord with the health maintenance organization's usual enrollment process is provided within thirty days of the date the insured notifies the health maintenance organization of the insured's intent to adopt the infant for whom coverage is sought; or
(ii) From the first day following receipt by the
health maintenance organization of written notice of the insured's ability to
consent for treatment of the infant for whom coverage is sought and enrollment
of the adopted newborn in accord with the health maintenance organization's
usual enrollment process if the newborn has been treated from birth by a
provider not contracting or affiliated with the health maintenance
organization; [and]
(6) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary,
any policy, contract, plan, or agreement issued or renewed in this State shall
provide reimbursement for services provided by advanced practice registered
nurses recognized pursuant to chapter 457. Services rendered by advanced
practice registered nurses are subject to the same policy limitations generally
applicable to health care providers within the policy, contract, plan, or
agreement[.]; and
(7) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, each policy, contract, plan, or agreement, except for policies that only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage, shall provide coverage for the screening of colorectal cancer by colonoscopy and any other screening modalities that have received a grade of A or B from the United States Preventive Services Task Force."
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage; Colonoscopy
Description:
Mandates health insurance coverage to screen for colorectal cancer by colonoscopy or another screening modality graded A or B by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. (SD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
