Cancer Screening Coverage Act of 2001

The Cancer Screening Coverage Act of 2001 (S. 868) was designed to require private health insurance plans and group health providers to cover essential cancer screening tests for their members. Under this bill, insurance companies would be mandated to pay for mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap tests, pelvic exams, colorectal screenings, and prostate exams for patients at appropriate ages and intervals.

For the average citizen, this legislation would have ensured that preventative cancer screenings are a standard part of health coverage, regardless of whether the plan was provided through an employer or purchased individually. The bill also included protections to prevent insurance companies from discriminating against individuals who use these benefits or offering financial incentives to doctors to limit these screenings. Additionally, it granted the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to update these requirements as new medical technologies and screening methods are developed.