This bill amends existing New Jersey law to expand the requirements for health insurance carriers regarding prostate cancer screening. It mandates that 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 for men aged 40 to 75. Previously, coverage was limited to men aged 50 and over who were asymptomatic or men aged 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer. The bill broadens the definition of prostate cancer screening to include various medically viable methods for detection and diagnosis, such as 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, 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 new provisions ensure that no deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or other cost-sharing requirements will be imposed for the specified age group, thereby enhancing access to essential preventive healthcare for prostate cancer. The act will take effect 90 days after enactment and will 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