FINAL BILL REPORT
SSB 5396
C 366 L 23
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Concerning cost sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Wilson, L., Boehnke, Frame, Hunt, Kauffman, Kuderer, Rivers, Rolfes, Shewmake, Valdez and Warnick).
Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Health Care & Wellness
House Committee on Appropriations
Background:

Under the Affordable Care Act, health benefit plans must provide, at a minimum, coverage with no cost sharing, for preventive or wellness services that have a rating of A or B in the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The USPSTF recommends, at a B grade, screening mammography, with or without clinical breast examination, every one to two years for women age 40 years and older.

Summary:

Beginning January 1, 2024, for health plans that include coverage of supplemental breast examinations and diagnostic breast examinations, health carriers may not impose cost sharing for such examinations. 

 

Diagnostic breast examination means a medically necessary and appropriate examination, including an examination using diagnostic mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, breast magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound, that is used to evaluate an abnormality seen or suspected from a screening examination for breast cancer, or detected by another means of examination.

 

Supplemental breast examination means a medically necessary and appropriate examination, including an examination using breast magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound, that is used to screen for breast cancer based an individual's personal or family medical history, or additional factors that may increase the individual's risk of breast cancer.

Votes on Final Passage:
Senate 48 0
House 90 6 (House amended)
Senate 48 0 (Senate concurred)
Effective:

Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.July 23, 2023