This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by introducing a new article that mandates insurance providers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without imposing any cost-sharing requirements on patients. The bill defines key terms such as "cost-sharing requirement," "diagnostic breast examinations," and "supplemental breast examinations," ensuring clarity on what constitutes these services. It specifies that if a health benefit policy includes coverage for these examinations, no out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles or copayments can be charged to the insured individuals.

Additionally, the bill allows the Commissioner of Insurance to propose legislative rules to implement these provisions and includes exceptions for cases where compliance with the bill could affect eligibility for Health Savings Accounts under federal law. The bill emphasizes that existing utilization review processes will remain unaffected and that the Insurance Commissioner will align the implementation with current guidelines from recognized medical organizations. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance access to essential breast health services for individuals without financial barriers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 33-64-1