Committee advances bill to eliminate follow-up copays for cervical cancer diagnostic testing

Senate Bill 15 27 A, which would require group and individual health plans as well as the Public Employees' Benefit Board and the Oregon Educators Benefit Board to cover medically necessary cervical cancer screenings and eliminate out-of-pocket costs for follow-up diagnostic testing, was advanced by the House Committee on Health Care on Wednesday.

The committee voted to send the bill to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation following testimony from its Senate sponsor and medical professionals who said follow-up costs can be prohibitively expensive. "Senate Bill 15 27 A addresses this by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for follow-up diagnostic testing," Senator Deb Patterson told the committee. Patterson cited accounts from a gynecologist who reported seeing Oregonians arrive with more advanced disease than expected and said patients sometimes face $750–$1,200 in out-of-pocket charges for follow-up care.

Dr. Amanda Bridal, a gynecologic oncologist at OHSU, described how screening, which is free under current federal and state programs in many instances, often does not eliminate the financial barrier to diagnosis because follow-up procedures (colposcopy, biopsy, pathology and facility fees) can accumulate. "What I love about this bill is it helps limit one financial barrier," Bridal said, adding that removing that cost can prevent delays that lead to later-stage, harder-to-treat cancers.

Katie King of the Oregon section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reiterated clinical support and noted new federal HRSA guidance, issued Jan. 5, that requires insurers to cover medically necessary follow-up testing without cost sharing; she said the state law would provide an enforcement backstop if federal policies evolve.

In a committee work session Vice Chair Bridal moved the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Committee roll-call votes recorded the following affirmative responses: Representative Parvick (Aye), Representative Travate (Aye), Representative McIntyre (Yes), Representative Munoz (Yes), Representative Pham (Strong aye), Vice Chair Diehl (Yes), Vice Chair Nelson (Yes) and Chair Knowles (Yes). The chair announced the bill was adopted by the committee and said Representative Anessa Hartman will carry it on the House floor (or the chair will carry it if Hartman is unavailable).

The bill as presented covers diagnostic follow-up testing only; it does not eliminate cost-sharing for treatment. Supporters told the committee the proposal is bipartisan, passed the Senate unanimously, and carries minimal fiscal and no revenue impact as summarized by committee staff.

The committee asked witnesses to provide written remarks and additional technical details for the record; the bill will proceed to the House floor under the committee's do-pass recommendation.