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.