Bill Text: VA HB238 | 2024 | Regular Session | Prefiled
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-Prefiled.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 for colorectal cancer screening of average-risk
individuals.
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. The initial
screening test shall not be considered completed until a follow-up colonoscopy
is performed.
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.