HF 95

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 02/13/2025 04:25 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to health; requiring coverage for certain diagnostic and screening colorectal
cancer tests; requiring early colorectal cancer screening; developing an education
program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62A.30, subdivisions 2, 6,
by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62A.30, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Required coverage.

Every policy, plan, certificate, or contract referred to in
subdivision 1 that provides coverage to a Minnesota resident must provide coverage for
routine screening procedures for cancer and the office or facility visit, including
mammograms, surveillance tests for ovarian cancer for women who are at risk for ovarian
cancer as defined in subdivision 3, pap smears, and colorectal screening new text begin and diagnostic new text end tests
for deleted text begin men and women deleted text end new text begin individuals as specified in subdivision 7 new text end , when ordered or provided by
a physician in accordance with the standard practice of medicine.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2026, and applies to health
plans offered, issued, or sold on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62A.30, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Application.

If the application of subdivision 5 new text begin or 7 new text end before an enrollee has met
their health plan's deductible would result in: (1) health savings account ineligibility under
United States Code, title 26, section 223; or (2) catastrophic health plan ineligibility under
United States Code, title 42, section 18022(e), then subdivision 5 new text begin or 7 new text end shall apply to
diagnostic services or testing only after the enrollee has met their health plan's deductible.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2026, and applies to health
plans offered, issued, or sold on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62A.30, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Colorectal diagnostic and screening tests. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of subdivision 2,
in order to facilitate early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, every policy, plan,
certificate, or contract in subdivision 1 must provide coverage of colorectal screening and
diagnostic tests to all Minnesota residents regardless of age.
new text end

new text begin (b) Screening and diagnostic tests include colonoscopy; flexible sigmoidoscopy; blood
and stool tests including Shield test, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test, fecal
immunochemical test, and FIT-DNA test; and other proven colorectal diagnostic and
screening tests currently being evaluated by the federal Food and Drug Administration or
by the National Cancer Institute.
new text end

new text begin (c) If a health care provider determines an enrollee requires additional diagnostic services
or testing after colorectal diagnostic and screening tests, a health plan must provide coverage
for the additional diagnostic service or testing with no cost-sharing, including co-pay,
deductible, or coinsurance.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2026, and applies to health
plans offered, issued, or sold on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin COLORECTAL CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall conduct a long-term coordinated education program
to raise public awareness of colorectal cancer and the diagnostic and screening tests available.
The education program must be designed to disseminate information through social media,
physician offices and medical clinics, and other sources about risk factors, screening tests,
and ways to prevent the disease. The education program must also focus on best practices
for screening, development of screening and referral services, screening questions, and
promotion of early access to screening.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end