Bill Text: VA HB238 | 2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Health insurance; coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-2)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-28 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0181) [HB238 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB238-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §38.2-3418.7:1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§38.2-3418.7:1. Coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
A. Notwithstanding the provisions of §38.2-3419, each insurer
proposing to issue individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies
providing hospital, medical and surgical, or major medical coverage on
an expense-incurred basis; each corporation providing individual or group
accident and sickness subscription contracts; and each health maintenance
organization providing a health care plan for health care services shall provide
coverage for colorectal cancer screening under any such policy, contract,
or plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this Commonwealth,
on and after July 1, 2000.
B. Coverage for colorectal cancer screening, specifically
screening with an annual fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy or
colonoscopy, or in appropriate circumstances radiologic imaging,
examinations, and laboratory tests shall be provided in accordance with the
most recently published recommendations established by the American College
of Gastroenterology, in consultation with the American Cancer Society,
for the ages, family histories, and frequencies referenced in such
recommendations U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal
cancer screening for which a rating of A or B is in effect with respect to the
individual involved. A follow-up colonoscopy after a positive
noninvasive stool-based screening test or direct visualization screening test
shall be covered.
C. The coverage provided under this section shall not be
more restrictive than or separate from coverage provided for any other illness,
condition or disorder for purposes of determining deductibles, benefit year or
lifetime durational limits, benefit year or lifetime dollar limits, lifetime
episodes or treatment limits, copayment and coinsurance factors, and benefit
year maximum for deductibles and copayments and coinsurance factors
subject to any deductible, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing requirements
for services received from participating providers under the policy, contract,
or plan.
D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) short-term travel, accident only, limited or specified disease policies, other than cancer policies, (ii) short-term nonrenewable policies of not more than six months duration, or (iii) policies or contracts designed for issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, known as Medicare, or any other similar coverage under state or federal governmental plans.
2. That the provisions of this act shall apply to individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies, individual or group accident and sickness subscription contracts, or health care plans delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on and after January 1, 2025.