ARIZONA STATE SENATE
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JASON THEODOROU |
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LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST COMMERCE COMMITTEE Telephone: (602) 926-3171 |
RESEARCH STAFF
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE
DATE: February 6, 2023
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1052, relating to biomarker testing; insurance coverage; definitions
Purpose
Excludes limited benefit coverage from a policy issued or renewed by a disability insurer or group or blanket disability insurer for the purpose of providing coverage of biomarker testing.
Background
The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions regulates policies, certificates, evidences of coverage and contracts of insurance that are issued or delivered by health care insurers. Health care insurers include disability insurers, group disability insurers, blanket disability insurers, health care services organizations, hospital service corporations and medical service corporations (A.R.S. § 20-1379).
In 2022, the Legislature enacted legislation to require, for contracts, evidences of coverage and policies issued, a hospital or medical service corporation, health care service organization, disability insurer and group or blanket disability insurer to provide biomarker testing (Laws 2022, Ch. 219). Biomarker testing aids in the diagnosing and monitoring of cancer during and after treatment. Each person's cancer presents a unique pattern of biomarkers and some cancer treatments may only work for individuals whose cancers have certain biomarkers (NCI).
Statute defines limited benefit coverage as an insurance policy that is designed, advertised and marketed to supplement major medical insurance and that includes accident only, dental only, vision only, disability income only, fixed or hospital indemnity, specified disease insurance, credit insurance or Taft-Hartley trusts (A.R.S. § 20-1137).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Excludes limited benefit coverage from a policy issued or renewed by a disability insurer or group or blanket disability insurer for the purpose of providing coverage of biomarker testing.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
