An Act amending the act of November 22, 2005 (P.L.407, No.74), known as the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act, further providing for short title, for definitions and for Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Program established.

PRINTER'S NO. 1918
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1602
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GALLAGHER, J. HARRIS, FRANKEL, KHAN, HILL-EVANS,
WAXMAN, SANCHEZ, T. DAVIS, McNEILL, GIRAL, FREEMAN, PROBST,
SCHLOSSBERG, HANBIDGE, PIELLI, DONAHUE, HOHENSTEIN, NEILSON,
RIVERA, JAMES, DOUGHERTY, D. WILLIAMS, RABB, STEELE,
BOROWSKI, SAPPEY, INGLIS, CONKLIN, GUZMAN, MAYES, O'MARA,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CIRESI, SCHWEYER AND WARREN, JUNE 12, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, JUNE 16, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of November 22, 2005 (P.L.407, No.74), entitled
"An act establishing a program for breast and cervical cancer
screening services for certain eligible women; and providing
for the powers and duties of the Department of Health,"
further providing for short title, for definitions and for
Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Screening
Program established.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1 of the act of November 22, 2005
(P.L.407, No.74), known as the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical
Cancer Early Screening Act, is amended to read:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
Breast, Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Early Screening Act.
Section 2. The definition of "program" in section 2 of the
act is amended and the section is amended by adding a definition
to read:
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Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Colorectal cancer screening." Any of the following
procedures that are furnished to an individual for the purpose
of early detection of colorectal cancer:
(1) Screening fecal-occult blood or fecal immunochemical
test.
(2) Screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.
(3) Screening colonoscopy.
(4) Screening barium enema.
(5) CT colonography.
(6) Multi-target stool DNA test.
(7) Screening tests consistent with approved medical
standards and practices for the early detection of colorectal
cancer.
* * *
"Program." The Pennsylvania Breast, Colorectal and Cervical
Cancer Early Screening Program established in section 3.
* * *
Section 3. Section 3 of the act is amended to read:
Section 3. Pennsylvania Breast, Colorectal and Cervical Cancer
Early Screening Program established.
(a) Program established.--There is hereby established within
the Department of Health a program to be known as the
Pennsylvania Breast, Colorectal and Cervical Cancer Early
Screening Program, which shall provide for the availability of
[annual] breast cancer screening services, colorectal cancer
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screening services and cervical cancer screening services [for
low-income underinsured and uninsured women who are 40 to 49
years of age.] at intervals recommended by clinical practice
guidelines based on age and sex.
(b) Screening services.--The program shall be administered
by the department for [women] individuals who are eligible under
subsection (c) and shall be targeted towards [women] residents
of this Commonwealth who are at high risk for breast, colorectal
and cervical cancer.
(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible for the program, an
individual must meet all of the following requirements:
(1) Be [a woman who is 40 to 49 years of age.] any of
the following:
(i) A woman who is 40 to 49 years of age for breast
cancer and cervical cancer screenings.
(ii) For colorectal cancer screenings, an individual
who is:
(A) 45 years of age or older, or 40 to 45 years
of age with a family history of colon cancer; or
(B) within 10 years of the age of a first-degree
family relative previously diagnosed with colon
cancer.
(2) Have a family income that does not exceed 250% of
the Federal poverty level.
(3) Have no health insurance coverage for screening
mammograms, clinical breast examinations, Pap [tests and
pelvic examinations for women.], HPV or co-tests, pelvic
examinations or colorectal cancer screenings.
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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