BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2250

By: Johnson, Julie

Insurance

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

State law currently requires health benefit plans that provide coverage for screening medical procedures to provide coverage for colorectal screening procedures to each individual enrolled in the plan who is 50 years of age or older. Recent changes to national guidelines by the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that colorectal cancer screening begin at age 45 for those with average risk due to increased rates of colon cancer under age 50. H.B. 2250 seeks to bring state law into alignment with medically accepted colorectal screening guidelines by requiring certain health care plans to provide coverage for expenses incurred in conducting a medically recognized screening examination for the detection of colorectal cancer for enrolled individuals over the age of 45.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2250 amends the Insurance Code to require a health benefit plan that provides coverage for screening medical procedures to provide coverage for colon cancer screening for each individual enrolled in the plan who is 45 years of age or older, rather than only to enrolled individuals 50 years of age or older and at normal risk for developing colon cancer. The bill applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2022.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.