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Senators advance bill to require uniform lung cancer screening coverage
Summary
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee voted to pass House Bill 1316, a measure aimed at ensuring uniform insurance coverage for lung cancer screening that sponsors say will improve early detection and save lives.
State Sen. Dave Wallace and State Rep. Fred Allen told the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee that House Bill 1316 would standardize coverage for lung cancer screening under private insurance plans and follow guidelines recommended by cancer experts.
"This bill is gonna save lives," Sen. Dave Wallace said, arguing Arkansas has one of the nation’s highest lung cancer death rates and low survival rates because many cases are detected too late.
The bill’s sponsors told the committee the state Employee Benefits Division already covers lung cancer screening and that federal rules under the Affordable Care Act require private plans to cover preventive services without cost sharing when the services meet USPSTF or equivalent guidelines. "So there should be no increase in the premiums," Wallace said, adding the bill simply ensures uniform coverage following guidelines set by expert organizations.
Rep. Fred Allen, who said he is an 18-year cancer survivor, described the importance of early detection and recounted discussions with clinicians at national cancer centers, saying early-stage detection raises survival rates. He and Wallace said they were not aware of organized opposition to the bill and noted the bill had passed unanimously on the House side last week.
Sen. Flowers moved the bill to pass out of committee; Sen. Penzo seconded. The committee voice-voted in favor.
The measure, as explained in committee, does not change Employee Benefits Division coverage and is intended to ensure private carriers apply consistent screening coverage criteria. The committee did not receive testimony in opposition during the hearing.
If enacted, the bill would require carriers to follow the screening-coverage standard the bill describes; sponsors told committee members that the bill’s intent is to increase access to lung cancer screening — particularly in rural areas — and to reduce late-stage diagnoses.
No implementation timetable or projected budgetary impact beyond the sponsors’ statement that there would be no physical impact to the state was provided to the committee during the hearing.
The committee voted the bill Do Pass by voice vote. The committee record shows the motion to report the bill was made by Sen. Flowers and seconded by Sen. Penzo.
