ASSEMBLY HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5034

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 2, 2021

      The Assembly Health Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5034.

      As amended, this bill reduces the age in which health benefit plans are required to cover regular colorectal cancer screenings from 50 to 45.

      Presently, health benefit plans are only required to cover a colorectal cancer screening at regular intervals for a person who is aged 50 and over, or for a person of any age who is considered to be at high risk for colorectal cancer. 

      Under this bill, the age at which a regular colorectal cancer screening will be covered by health benefit plans is lowered from age 50 to age 45.  Additionally, the bill requires contracts purchased by the State Health Benefit Commission and School Employees’ Health Benefit Commission to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screenings.  The bill’s provisions apply only to future policies and contracts.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments clarify that the colorectal screening benefit applies to contracts purchased by the School Employees’ Health Benefits Commission; and make certain other technical changes to the bill.