Sec. 21.42.395. - Coverage for prostate and cervical cancer detection. - Alaska Statutes

(a) Except for a fraternal benefit society, a health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews in this state a health care insurance plan shall provide coverage for the costs of prostate cancer screening tests as required under the schedule described in (b) of this section and shall provide coverage for the costs of cervical cancer screening tests as required under (c) of this section. The coverage required by this section is subject to standard policy provisions applicable to other benefits, including deductible or copayment provisions. If a physician recommends that a covered individual undergo prostate cancer screening by taking a prostate antigen blood test, coverage may not be denied because the covered individual has already had a digital rectal examination and the examination results were negative.

(b) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section includes an annual prostate cancer screening test for a person who is

(1) at least 35 years of age but less than 40 years of age and the person is in a high risk group; in this paragraph, "high risk" means a person who is an African-American or who has a family history of prostate cancer; or

(2) 40 or more years of age.

(c) The minimum coverage required under (a) of this section for cervical cancer screening is an annual pap smear cancer screening test for a person who is 18 or more years of age.

(d) [Repealed, Sec. 115 ch 81 SLA 1997].

(e) In this section, "prostate cancer screening tests" includes a prostate antigen blood test or another test that is equivalent or better in cancer detection.