17B:27A-7.7 Individual health benefits plan to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening.

6. Every individual health benefits plan that provides hospital or medical expense benefits and is delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, shall provide benefits to any person covered thereunder for expenses incurred in conducting colorectal cancer screening at regular intervals for persons age 50 and over and for persons of any age who are considered to be at high risk for colorectal cancer. The methods of screening for which benefits shall be provided shall include: a screening fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema, or any combination thereof; or the most reliable, medically recognized screening test available. The method and frequency of screening to be utilized shall be in accordance with the most recent published guidelines of the American Cancer Society and as determined medically necessary by the covered person's physician, in consultation with the covered person.

As used in this section, "high risk for colorectal cancer" means a person has:

a. a family history of: familial adenomatous polyposis; hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; or breast, ovarian, endometrial or colon cancer or polyps;

b. chronic inflammatory bowel disease; or

c. a background, ethnicity or lifestyle that the physician believes puts the person at elevated risk for colorectal cancer.

The benefits shall be provided to the same extent as for any other medical condition under the health benefits plan.

The provisions of this section shall apply to all health benefit plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.

L.2001,c.295,s.6.