The Tennessee State Senate unanimously approved legislation that would require insurance companies to offer a full range of colorectal cancer screening options as part of their benefits plans to new and existing policy holders. The Tennessee House unanimously approved the measure earlier this month, and this legislation now awaits approval by Gov. Phil Bredesen.
“This legislation is important for a number of reasons,” said Chastity Mitchell, Tennessee government relations director for the American Cancer Society, “Colorectal cancer is a leading killer in the United States that will take the lives of more than 1,200 Tennesseans this year. Colorectal cancer can be prevented, and screenings for colorectal cancer can save lives.”
The legislation will require insurance companies to offer a full range of colorectal cancer screening options for people over age 50 and to those at increased risk under age 50. The screening options include:
· Annual fecal occult blood test  and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
· Colonoscopy every 10 years
· Double-contrast barium enema every five years.
According to the American Cancer Society, offering a range of screening options is important because individuals often prefer one screening method over another. While colonoscopy is considered the “gold standard” of colorectal cancer screenings, only 26 percent of Americans between the ages of 50 and 59 received a colonoscopy within the last five years.
“We know that lack of insurance coverage plays an important role in a patient’s decision to get screened,” Mitchell said. Studies have shown that there is a link between the use of preventive services and the level of service covered by health plans.
Most health plans already offer fecal occult blood testing. Adding a colonoscopy benefit will cost only eight cents per member per month. Plans currently offering both a fecal occult blood test and a flexible sigmoidoscopy would actually save 11 cents per member per month when members choose the colonoscopy benefit.

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