BILL NUMBER: S7921A
SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to coverage of certain
procedures to detect breast cancer
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends the insurance law in relation to certain procedures to detect
breast cancer. Section 1. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 11 of subsection
(1) of section 3221 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 143 of
the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows: (A) Every insurer
delivering a group or blanket policy for delivery in this state and
provides coverage for hospital, surgical; or medical care shall provide
the following coverage for mammography screening for occult breast
cancer.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New Yorkers are suffering from an increase in breast cancer. Breast
Cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. Each year, about
30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women are breast cancer. Accord-
ing to the data from Breatcancer.org, approximately 13% (about one in
eight) of U.S. women are going to develop invasive breast cancer during
their life.
In New York State breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among
women. According to the data from New York Department of Health each
year, about 16,700 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and about
2,500 women die from the disease.
On Long Island, incidents of breast cancer are thirteen to eighteen
percent higher than the statewide average, according to The Department
of Healthy and Human Services, National Institutes of Health National
Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
"REPORT TO THE U.S. CONGRESS THE LONG ISLAND BREAST CANCER STUDY PROJECT
November 2004."
This law would give people a fighting chance against this malicious
disease. By amending the insurance law, to provide additional viable
options at an earlier age for diagnostic testing as determined appropri-
ate by a patient's own physicians will lead to earlier diagnosis based
upon each patient's unique situation. Cancer is aninsidious malignancy
that thrives when hidden. By passing this bill we give the chance for
thousands of New Yorkers to find and fight this horrific disease before
it takes root.
Effective Date: 30 days after it shall have become law.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined. 30 days after it shall have become law.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
30 days after it shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S7921: 3221 insurance law, 3221(l) insurance law, 4303 insurance law, 4303(p) insurance law
S7921A: 3221 insurance law, 3221(l) insurance law, 4303 insurance law, 4303(p) insurance law