Senate Bill 2406

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 83-9-108, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR BREAST ULTRASOUND UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 83-9-108, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

83-9-108. (1) Every insurer shall offer in each group or individual policy, contract or certificate of health insurance issued or renewed for persons who are residents of this state, coverage for annual screenings by low-dose mammography for all women thirty-five (35) years of age or older for the presence of occult breast cancer within the provisions of the policy, contract or certificate. This coverage shall be offered on an optional basis, and each primary insured must accept or reject such coverage in writing and accept responsibility for premium payment.

(2) Such policy, contract or certificate shall provide additional benefits for:

(a) Comprehensive ultrasound screening of an entire breast or breasts if a mammogram demonstrates heterogeneous or dense breast tissue based on the reporting required in Section 41-58-9, or if a woman is believed to be at increased risk for breast cancer due to family history or prior personal history of breast cancer, positive genetic testing or other indications as determined by a woman's physician or advanced practice registered nurse; and

(b) Magnetic resonance imaging of an entire breast or breasts in accordance with guidelines established by the American Cancer Society.

( * * *23) Such benefits for annual screenings by low-dose mammography shall be at least as favorable as for other radiological examinations and all benefits under this section shall be subject to the same dollar limits, deductibles and coinsurance factors. For purposes of this section, "low-dose mammography" means the x-ray examination of the breast using equipment dedicated specifically for mammography, including the x-ray tube, filter, compression device, screens, films and cassettes with a radiation exposure which is diagnostically valuable and in keeping with the recommended "Average Patient Exposure Guides" as published by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.

( * * *34) Except for cancer policies, nothing in this section shall apply to accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long-term care or limited benefit health insurance policies.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.