ASSEMBLY INSURANCE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1964

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: OCTOBER 7, 1996

      The Assembly Insurance Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1964.

      This bill, as amended, requires all health insurers which cover groups with 50 or more persons and health maintenance organizations to provide benefits for an annual medically recognized diagnostic examination for prostate cancer including, but not limited to, a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for men age 50 and over who are asymptomatic, and for men age 40 and over with a family history of prostate cancer or other prostate cancer risk factors. The PSA blood test was recently approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to help detect prostate cancer in men when used in conjunction with a digital rectal examination.

      The committee amended the bill to delete any reference to transrectal ultrasonography as a required screening test eligible for insurance coverage and to clarify that health maintenance organizations are required to provide the health care services required by this bill. These amendments conform the bill to its companion, Senate, No. 1077 (1R), as amended by the committee.