This bill mandates that health insurance carriers, including health service corporations, hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and commercial group health insurers, provide coverage for annual prostate cancer screenings without any cost-sharing requirements. The current law only requires coverage for specific diagnostic examinations for men aged 50 and over or those aged 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer. The new legislation broadens the definition of prostate cancer screening to encompass a range of medically viable detection methods, including digital rectal exams, prostate-specific antigen tests, and associated laboratory work, as well as follow-up testing directed by healthcare providers.

Additionally, the bill extends these prostate cancer screening requirements to individual health insurance policies, health benefits plans under the New Jersey Individual Health Coverage and Small Employer Health Benefits Programs, and contracts under the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees Health Benefits Program, which were not previously mandated to provide such coverage. The bill aims to ensure comprehensive access to prostate cancer screening for all eligible individuals, thereby enhancing early detection and treatment options. The provisions of the bill will take effect 90 days after enactment and apply to all relevant contracts and policies issued or renewed thereafter.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:48E-35.13, 17:48-6, 17:48A-7, 17B:27-46.1, 26:2J-4.13