Colorectal screenings have been proven to reduce mortality from colorectal cancer.

Who should pay for the tests is still up for some debate.

The state Assembly recently passed A.2085, which would require health insurance providers to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening(s) in accordance with the American Cancer Society guidelines for average risk individuals. As of May 2021, the guidelines recommend beginning screening at age 45 for such individuals. Companion legislation (S.906B) has been introduced by Sen. James Sanders Jr., D-South Ozone Park, and has been referred to the Senate Insurance Committee.

“Colon cancer is the second-leading cancer killer in America and is the primary cancer killer among nonsmokers,” wrote Sanders and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx and Assembly sponsor of A.2085, in their legislative justification. “Without preventative action, one in every 17 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer. However, with colonoscopy screening, that risk is reduced to as low as one in 100 people. Studies have found that a colonoscopy can detect cancer in patients without symptoms that would be missed by other screening methods. By requiring coverage for preventative screenings, this deadly cancer can be detected earlier, making treatment more likely to be successful.”

Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, was one of five Assembly members — along with Christopher Tague, Michael Montesano, Christopher Friend and David DiPietro — to vote against the legislation. Goodell was the only one of the five to speak about the measure on the Assembly floor and said his issue has nothing to do with the value of colorectal screening but, instead, what the legislation means for health insurance in New York state.

“We all know colorectal cancer screening is a great preventative measure and I encourage everyone to consider that procedure,” Goodell said. “The prep is sometimes unpleasant but the results of not detecting cancer early is much, much worse. And so I fully support the intent of encouraging more cancer screening. My concern is with this bill, it states an individual shall not be subject to a deductible, co-insurance or any other cost sharing for services consistent with this process. And as with the last bill that we had a few minutes ago, we keep getting a series of bills and each one says this service shall be without charge or an additional scope of coverage (is added) and every time we do that, we increase the cost to everyone else.”

There have been at least eight bills either mandating a form of insurance coverage or making a treatment or test free in the state of New York proposed this year in the state Assembly.

A.2085 would require all preventative screening lab tests and follow-up colonoscopy procedures to be covered without insurance companies requiring deductibles or co-pays. It also requires the state Financial Services superintendent to require health insurance providers to annually notify enrollees of colorectal screenings covered by such enrollees’ plan and the most recently published federal guidelines.

“Now every time we do it by statute we eliminate consumer choice,” Goodell said. “No longer in New York state can you buy a basic policy. You can’t go to an insurance company and say, ‘Look, I just want major medical.’ Which is one reason why insurance rates in the state of New York are amongst the highest in the nation. And if you think about it, in almost any other consumer transaction you can buy a level of coverage which you want, except here. For that reason I vote for consumers to allow them to have a choice in what kind of plan they want and what the premium should be.”