Colorectal Cancer Screening Mandate

BULLETIN 08-33 Date: November 10, 2008 To: Insurers, Health Maintenance Organizations and Nonprofit Health Service Plans Re: Colorectal Cancer Screening Mandate Insurance Article, §15-837, Annotated Code of Maryland The purpose of this bulletin is to inform insurers, health maintenance organizations, and nonprofit health service plans (hereinafter "carriers") of updates to the American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines. These updates to the colorectal cancer screening guidelines impact all health insurance and health maintenance organization contracts that are subject to Insurance Article, §15-837, Annotated Code of Maryland. Small employer contracts that are subject to Title 15, Subtitle 12 of the Insurance Article are not currently subject to these same guidelines. Effective September 15, 2008, the American Cancer Society updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to include two new tests, the stool DNA test and the computed tomography colonography, which is also known as virtual colonoscopy. Therefore, since §15-837 of the Insurance Article requires that carriers subject to this section provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening in accordance with the latest screening guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society, these newer tests are required to be covered, provided they are administered in accordance with the American Cancer Society guidelines. Copies of the new American Cancer Society guidelines are available at http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/misc/guidelines.shtml. Any questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Life/Health section at 410-468-2170. ________________________________ Brenda A. Wilson Associate Commissioner Life and Health RALPH S. TYLER Commissioner BETH SAMMIS Deputy Commissioner MARTIN O’MALLEY Governor ANTHONY G. BROWN Lt. Governor 525 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-2272 1-800-492-6116 TTY: 1-800-735-2258 www.mdinsurance.state.md.us