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.)

S3023

2026 -- S 3023
========
LC005973
========

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, Murray, Appollonio, Thompson, Tikoian, Lauria,
Pearson, and Euer

Date Introduced:
March 05, 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 current American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer
14
screening. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met for follow-
15
up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to health plans
16
that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223.
17
Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to January
18
1, 2027.
19

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization

1
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
2
current American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer screening.
3
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service
4
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
5

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

6

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
7
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
8
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
9
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
10
lung cancer screenings.
11

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
12
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after
13
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for all follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
14
cancer that are administered at a frequency identified in the current American Cancer Society
15
guidelines, including follow up examinations. Follow up examinations include, but are not limited
16
to, chest x-ray, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission
17
tomography, or biopsy. There shall be no copayment, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing
18
required, and no deductible shall need to be met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for
19
lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with a federally qualified
20
health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health
21
plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2027.
22

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization
23
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
24
current American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer screening.
25
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service
26
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
27

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

28

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
29
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
30
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
31
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
32
lung cancer screenings.
33

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
34
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after

LC005973 - Page 2 of 5
1
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for all follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
2
cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of
3
practice, and as recommended by current American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer
4
screening. There shall be no copayment, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing required, and no
5
deductible shall need to be met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A
6
deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings
7
account pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from
8
implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2027.
9

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent medical management or utilization
10
review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with
11
current American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer screening.
12
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance
13
Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
14

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

15

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading
16
cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure
17
that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of
18
the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for
19
lung cancer screenings.
20

(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides
21
coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after
22
January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for all follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung
23
cancer that are administered at a frequency identified in the current American Cancer Society
24
guidelines, including follow up examinations. Follow up examinations include, but are not limited
25
to, chest x-ray, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission
26
tomography, or biopsy. There shall be no copayment, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing
27
required, and no deductible shall need to be met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for
28
lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with a federally qualified
29
health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health
30
plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2027.
31

(c) 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
current American Cancer Society guidelines for lung cancer screening.

LC005973 - Page 3 of 5
1
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC005973
========

LC005973 - 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.
========
LC005973
========

LC005973 - Page 5 of 5