The Alabama House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on two bills to eliminate patient costs for certain breast and prostate cancer screenings.
House Bill 300 (HB300), sponsored by State Rep. Frances Holk-Jones (R-Foley), a recent breast cancer survivor, would eliminate deductibles, copayments or coinsurance charges for mammograms or diagnostic imaging of abnormalities.
"A health benefit plan that pays for, purchases, or furnishes health care services to individuals who reside in this state, and which provides coverage for a supplemental breast examination or a diagnostic breast examination, may not impose any cost-sharing requirement on an enrollee for a supplemental breast examination or diagnostic breast examination," the bill reads.
In Alabama, health insurers are required to cover mammograms for women aged 40 and older. Insurers subject to the Affordable Care Act already cover mammograms for women over 40 at no cost to the patient. The bill would require all insurers to comply.
State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) sponsored Senate Bill 177, the Senate version of the bill, which the Senate has passed.
A similar bill for men's health is also being considered. House Bill 40 (HB40) would eliminate the cost-sharing for screening of men who are at a high risk for prostate cancer.
"This bill would recognize that African American men and men who have a first degree relative who has had prostate cancer are at high risk for the disease," the bill states. "This bill would also require that coverage for screening of high-risk men and all older men be provided without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing requirements."
Senate Bill 19 is the companion bill.
Both HB300 and HB40 are on the legislative calendar for Tuesday.
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