The Washington State House passed a bill, HB 1337, which requires insurance coverage for colon and rectal cancer screening. The roll call vote was 83 yeas, 13 nays, and 2 excused. The bill was sent to the Senate where it was refered to the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
The House Committee on Health Care & Wellness in its report on the bill said beginning July 1, 2008 HB 1337 requires:
“…disability insurance contracts and health benefit plans to cover colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests constistent with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendatons or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.”
The report also said:
“Coverage must be provided for the screening and tests at the frequency identified in the guidelines or recommendations, as deemed appropriate by the patient’s physician after patient consultation. These benefits must be provided to individuals at least 50 years old and to those who are under age 50 if they are at high risk or very high risk for colorectal cancer according to the screening guidelines or recommendations.”
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care March 22 at 10:00 am (Pacific time). This is subject to change.
According to the 2007 Colorectal Cancer Legislation Report Card, Washington received an “F” because the state does not have “legislation that requires insurance providers to cover preventative colorectal cancer screenings.” If you are a resident of Washington you have to opportunity to change this to an “A” by calling your state Senator and tell him or her to vote “yes” on HB 1337.
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