AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Mandates health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay.)

S2864

2026 -- S 2864
========
LC003699
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Introduced By:
Senators Vargas, Lauria, Murray, Urso, Thompson, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance
2
Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

27-18-96. Insurance coverage for lung cancer screening.

4

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
5
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
6
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
7
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
8
lung cancer screenings.
9

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
10
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after
11
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
12
cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of
13
practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the
14
detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be
15
met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to
16
health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.
17
§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to
18
January 1, 2027.
19

(c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"

1
means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review
2
of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to
3
optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a
4
transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.
5

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization
6
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
7
nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.
8
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service
9
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
10

27-19-88. Insurance coverage for lung cancer screening.

11

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
12
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
13
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
14
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
15
lung cancer screenings.
16

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
17
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after
18
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
19
cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of
20
practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the
21
detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be
22
met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to
23
health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.
24
§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to
25
January 1, 2027.
26

(c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"
27
means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review
28
of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to
29
optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a
30
transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.
31

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization
32
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
33
nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.
34
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

LC003699 - Page 2 of 5
1
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
2

27-20-84. Insurance coverage for lung cancer screening.

3

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
4
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
5
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
6
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
7
lung cancer screenings.
8

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
9
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after
10
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
11
cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of
12
practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the
13
detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be
14
met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to
15
health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.
16
§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to
17
January 1, 2027.
18

(c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"
19
means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review
20
of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to
21
optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a
22
transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.
23

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization
24
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
25
nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.
26
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance
27
Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
28

27-41-101. Insurance coverage for lung cancer screening.

29

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
30
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
31
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
32
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
33
lung cancer screenings.
34

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

LC003699 - Page 3 of 5
1
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after
2
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
3
cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of
4
practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the
5
detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be
6
met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to
7
health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.
8
§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to
9
January 1, 2027.
10

(c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"
11
means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review
12
of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to
13
optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a
14
transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.
15

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization
16
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
17
nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.
18
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC003699
========

LC003699 - Page 4 of 5
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
***
1
This act would mandate health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
2
lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC003699
========

LC003699 - Page 5 of 5