BILL REQ. #:  S-3816.1 

Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to health benefit plans offering coverage for prostate cancer screening; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any disability insurance that is offered, issued, or renewed in this state after December 31, 2006, which provides coverage to men forty years old and older in this state, shall offer coverage for annual screening for the early detection of prostate cancer in men over the age of forty years, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network. The coverage shall not be subject to policy deductibles.
     (2) The benefit required in subsection (1) of this section shall in no way diminish or limit diagnostic benefits otherwise allowable under a health benefit plan. At least one screening shall be covered annually for any man forty years of age or older, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network guidelines.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "health benefit plan" includes a health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any state or municipal health insurance plan, any program funded under Title XIX of the social security act, or such other publicly funded program, and any coverage provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any group disability insurance that is offered, issued, or renewed in this state after December 31, 2006, which provides coverage to men forty years old and older in this state, shall offer coverage for annual screening for the early detection of prostate cancer in men over the age of forty years, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network. The coverage shall not be subject to policy deductibles.
     (2) The benefit required in subsection (1) of this section shall in no way diminish or limit diagnostic benefits otherwise allowable under a health benefit plan. At least one screening shall be covered annually for any man forty years of age or older, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network guidelines.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "health benefit plan" includes a health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any state or municipal health insurance plan, any program funded under Title XIX of the social security act, or such other publicly funded program, and any coverage provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any health care service contractor that offers, issues, or renews in this state after December 31, 2006, which provides coverage to men forty years old and older in this state, shall offer coverage for annual screening for the early detection of prostate cancer in men over the age of forty years, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network. The coverage shall not be subject to policy deductibles.
     (2) The benefit required in subsection (1) of this section shall in no way diminish or limit diagnostic benefits otherwise allowable under a health benefit plan. At least one screening shall be covered annually for any man forty years of age or older, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network guidelines.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "health benefit plan" includes a health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any state or municipal health insurance plan, any program funded under Title XIX of the social security act, or such other publicly funded program, and any coverage provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any health maintenance organization that offers, issues, or renews in this state after December 31, 2006, which provides coverage to men forty years old and older in this state, shall offer coverage for annual screening for the early detection of prostate cancer in men over the age of forty years, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network. The coverage shall not be subject to policy deductibles.
     (2) The benefit required in subsection (1) of this section shall in no way diminish or limit diagnostic benefits otherwise allowable under a health benefit plan. At least one screening shall be covered annually for any man forty years of age or older, according to the prostate cancer early detection guidelines of the national comprehensive cancer network guidelines.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "health benefit plan" includes a health plan as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any state or municipal health insurance plan, any program funded under Title XIX of the social security act, or such other publicly funded program, and any coverage provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   This act takes effect January 1, 2007.