HOUSE BILL NO. 570

By Representatives Chumney, Lewis, Ferguson, Curtiss, Arriola, Bone, Cooper, Pleasant, Haley, Hargett, Brown

Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 996

By Senators Ford, Crutchfield, Davis, Cooper

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56, relative to coverage for prostate cancer screening.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 56, Chapter 7, Part 23, is amended by adding the following new section:

(a) Every contract which provides for hospital, surgical or medical care shall provide upon the recommendation of a physician, coverage for the early detection of prostate cancer for (1) men aged fifty (50) and over and (2) other men if a physician determines that early detection for prostate cancer is medically necessary. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as applying to medical assistance programs funded with State and Federal funds, if such programs require the provision of services as medically necessary.

(b) Nothing in this section shall apply to accident only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, long term care or other limited benefit health insurance policies.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997, the public welfare requiring it.