SRC-CTC S.B. 1467 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1467 2001S0706/1By: Moncrief Business & Commerce 3/30/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people over the age of 50 with the average risk of colon cancer receive a colonoscopy every 10 years. However, many insurance plans do not pay for this procedure. As proposed, S.B. 1467 requires all comprehensive health insurance plans to offer routine colorectal cancer screening for people 50 years of age or older. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of insurance in SECTION 1 (Article 21.53S, Insurance Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21E, Insurance Code, by adding Article 21.53S, as follows: Art. 21.53S. COVERAGE OF CERTAIN TESTS FOR DETECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER Sec. 1. DEFINITION. Defines "health benefit plan." Sec. 2. SCOPE OF ARTICLE. Provides that this article applies to a health benefit plan that meets certain conditions. Sets forth the items to which this article does not apply. Sec. 3. REQUIRED COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN TESTS FOR THE DETECTION OF COLORECTAL CANCER. (a) Requires a health benefit plan that provides benefits for diagnostic medical procedures to provide coverage for each person enrolled in the plan who is 50 years of age or older for expenses incurred in conducting a medically recognized diagnostic examination for the detection of colorectal cancer. (b) Sets forth the minimum benefit requirements under Subsection (a). Sec. 4. NOTICE. Requires each health benefit plan to provide written notice to each person enrolled in the plan regarding the coverage required by this article. Requires the notice to be provided in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner. Sec. 5. RULES. Requires the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules as necessary to administer this article. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective to January 1, 2002.