HB 1969

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1969
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII
S.D. 1
C.D. 1
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.� Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:
���� "�346-   � State-funded
financial assistance for colorectal cancer screenings; treatment.� (a)� The department shall provide
state‑funded financial assistance, as appropriated by the legislature, to
pay for colorectal cancer screenings for residents of the State who:
���� (1)� Are uninsured; 
���� (2)� Have health care
coverage that does not provide coverage without cost sharing for colorectal
cancer screenings that meet the requirements of sections 431:10A-122 and 432:1-617;
���� (3)� Are permanent
United States resident aliens but are ineligible for medicaid; or
���� (4)� Are nonresident
aliens and are ineligible for medicaid.
���� (b)� The state-funded colorectal cancer screenings
shall meet the requirements of sections 431:10A-122 and 432:1-617.
���� (c)� If, as a result of a colorectal cancer
screening conducted pursuant to this section, an uninsured resident of the State requires treatment for colorectal cancer, the uninsured resident
shall receive state‑funded coverage for the colorectal cancer treatment."
���� SECTION 2.� Section
431:10A-122, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
���� "[[[]]�431:10A-122[[]� Colon]] Colorectal cancer screening
coverage. �(a)� Each policy of accident and health or
sickness insurance providing coverage for health care, except for policies that
only provide coverage for specified diseases or other limited benefit coverage,
shall provide coverage for [[colorectal-cancer]] colorectal cancer
screening by all A and B grade screening modalities as recommended by the
United States Preventive Services Task Force.
���� (b)�
Beginning March 1, 2011, all health insurance providers in Hawaii shall
inform their insured about the risk associated with undiagnosed [[colorectal-cancer]]
colorectal cancer and encourage the insured to consult with the
insured's physician about available screening options.
���� (c)� Coverage shall include a follow-up
colonoscopy conducted after a positive stool-based test, blood-based test, or
direct visualization test for colorectal cancer screening.
���� (d)� The coverage required under this section
shall not be subject to a deductible, copayment, coinsurance, or any other
cost-sharing requirements."
���� SECTION 3.� Section
432:1-617, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
���� "[[[]]�432:1-617[[]� Colon]] Colorectal cancer screening
coverage.� (a)� All individual and group hospital and medical
service contracts providing health care coverage shall provide coverage for [[colorectal-cancer]]
colorectal cancer screening by all A and B grade screening modalities as
recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
���� (b)�
Beginning March 1, 2011, all [[health insurance providers]] mutual
benefit societies in Hawaii shall inform their [[insured]] subscribers
or members of the risk associated with undiagnosed colorectal cancer and encourage
the [[insured]] subscriber or member to consult with the [[insured's]]
subscriber's or member's physician about available screening options.
���� (c)� Coverage shall include a follow-up
colonoscopy conducted after a positive stool-based test, blood-based test, or
direct visualization test for colorectal cancer screening.
���� (d)� The coverage required under this section
shall not be subject to a deductible, copayment, coinsurance, or any other
cost-sharing requirements."
���� SECTION 4.� (a)�
The department of human services shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement section 1 of this Act, including
rules establishing an application process for state-funded colorectal cancer
screenings and treatment.
���� (b)�
In adopting rules pursuant to this Act, the department shall ensure
that:
���� (1)� The state-funded colorectal
cancer screenings meet the requirements of sections 431:10A-122 and 432:1-617,
Hawaii Revised Statutes; and
���� (2)� No cost-sharing
requirements are imposed.
���� SECTION 5.� There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,800,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of human services to
develop and implement a public assistance program offering state-funded
colorectal cancer screenings and treatment, including the establishment of one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to manage and oversee the program.
���� The sum appropriated shall be expended
by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION 6.� Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.� New statutory
material is underscored.
���� SECTION 7.� This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
Report Title:
DHS;
Colorectal Cancer Screenings; Colorectal Cancer Treatment; State-Funded Financial
Assistance; Appropriation
Description:
Requires
the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a state-funded
financial assistance program to offer state-funded colorectal screenings and
treatment for certain persons.� Requires
state-funded coverage for follow-up treatment for colorectal cancer for certain
persons.� Requires coverage to include a
follow-up colonoscopy after a positive test result.� Specifies that coverage is not subject to a
deductible, copayment, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing requirements.� Appropriates funds and establishes one
full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position.�
(CD1)
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