This bill mandates that health insurers in New Jersey provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings for individuals aged 33 and older, as well as for those under 33 if deemed medically necessary by their physician. It specifies that each health insurance contract must cover one colorectal cancer screening per year for these individuals. The bill removes previous language that tied the screening method and frequency to the recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, allowing physicians to determine the necessity of the screening. Additionally, it prohibits any deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, or other cost-sharing requirements for colonoscopies performed after a positive result from a non-colonoscopy colorectal cancer screening test.

Furthermore, the bill expands the medical assistance program to include a variety of authorized services aimed at improving healthcare access for eligible individuals. This includes comprehensive maternity and pediatric care, specialized medical services, home health care, hospice services, diabetes management education, and tobacco cessation benefits, all without cost-sharing or copayments. The bill also introduces coverage for group prenatal services and pasteurized donated human breast milk for infants under six months under certain medical conditions. It emphasizes equitable access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations, and includes provisions to protect Medicaid recipients from having their eligibility considered when determining benefits. The bill is set to take effect four months after enactment, applying to all relevant policies and contracts issued or renewed thereafter.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 17:48-6, 17:48A-7, 17:48E-35.23, 17B:26-2.1, 17B:27-46.1, 17B:27A-7.7, 17B:27A-19.9, 26:2J-4.24, 52:14-17.29, 52:14-17.46.6, 30:4D-6