HBA-NRS S.B. 1467 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1467 By: Moncrief Insurance 5/8/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. Early detection and intervention can reduce mortality from colorectal cancer by approximately 90 percent. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people over the age of 50 undergo colon cancer screening. However, many insurance plans do not pay for the diagnostic procedures. Senate Bill 1467 requires all comprehensive health insurance plans to offer routine colorectal cancer screening for people 50 years of age or older. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of insurance in SECTION 1 (Sections 4 and 5, Article 21.53S, Insurance Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 1467 amends the Insurance Code to provide that a health benefit plan that provides benefits for diagnostic medical procedures must 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. The bill provides that the minimum benefits include a fecal occult blood test performed annually, a flexible sigmoidoscopy with hemoccult of the stool, performed every five years, and a colonoscopy performed every 10 years. The bill requires each health benefit plan to provide written notice to each person enrolled in the plan regarding coverage required by this bill. The notice must be provided in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner of insurance. The bill requires the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to administer coverage for certain tests for the detection of colorectal cancer. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001, and applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2002.