2026 -- S 2864

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LC003699

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

     Introduced By: Senators Vargas, Lauria, Murray, Urso, Thompson, and LaMountain

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance

Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-18-96. Insurance coverage for lung cancer screening.

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading

cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure

that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of

the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for

lung cancer screenings.

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after

January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung

cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of

practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the

detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be

met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to

health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.

§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to

January 1, 2027.

     (c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"

means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review

of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to

optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a

transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.

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

review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with

nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading

cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure

that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of

the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for

lung cancer screenings.

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after

January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung

cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of

practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the

detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be

met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to

health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.

§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to

January 1, 2027.

     (c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"

means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review

of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to

optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a

transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.

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

review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with

nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

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Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading

cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure

that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of

the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for

lung cancer screenings.

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after

January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung

cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of

practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the

detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be

met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to

health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.

§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to

January 1, 2027.

     (c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"

means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review

of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to

optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a

transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.

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

review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with

nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.

     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that lung cancer remains the leading

cause of cancer deaths in Rhode Island and further that early detection of lung cancer will ensure

that patients get the critical care they need without delay. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of

the people of the state to promote widespread availability by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for

lung cancer screenings.

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

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coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state on or after

January 1, 2027, shall provide coverage for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung

cancer upon the recommendation of a health care provider acting within the provider's scope of

practice, and as recommended by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the

detection of lung cancer. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be

met for follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer. A deductible may be applied to

health plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C.

§ 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to

January 1, 2027.

     (c) For the purposes of this section, "nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines"

means evidence-based, peer reviewed clinical practice guidelines informed by a systematic review

of evidence and an assessment of the benefits, and risks of alternative care options intended to

optimize patient care developed by independent organization professional societies utilizing a

transparent methodology and reporting structure and with a conflict-of-interest policy.

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

review of the services, including preauthorization, to ensure that such services are consistent with

nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for the detection of lung cancer.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

***

     This act would mandate 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.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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