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An Act To Reduce Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality by Updating Screening Coverage
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §2763, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §2 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
1. Colorectal cancer screening.   For the purposes of this section, "colorectal cancer screening" means aall colorectal cancer examinationexaminations and laboratory testtests recommended by a health care provider in accordance with the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society.
Sec. 2. 24-A MRSA §2763, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §2 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
A. Fifty years of age or olderAt average risk for colorectal cancer according to the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society; or
Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §2763, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §2 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
B. Less than 50 years of age and atAt high risk for colorectal cancer according to the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society.
Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §2847-N, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §3 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
1. Colorectal cancer screening.   For the purposes of this section, "colorectal cancer screening" means aall colorectal cancer examinationexaminations and laboratory testtests recommended by a health care provider in accordance with the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society.
Sec. 5. 24-A MRSA §2847-N, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §3 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
A. Fifty years of age or olderAt average risk for colorectal cancer according to the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society; or
Sec. 6. 24-A MRSA §2847-N, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §3 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
B. Less than 50 years of age and atAt high risk for colorectal cancer according to the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society.
Sec. 7. 24-A MRSA §4254, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §4 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
1. Colorectal cancer screening.   For the purposes of this section, "colorectal cancer screening" means aall colorectal cancer examinationexaminations and laboratory testtests recommended by a health care provider in accordance with the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society.
Sec. 8. 24-A MRSA §4254, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §4 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
A. Fifty years of age or olderAt average risk for colorectal cancer according to the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society; or
Sec. 9. 24-A MRSA §4254, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 516, §4 and affected by §5, is amended to read:
 
B. Less than 50 years of age and atAt high risk for colorectal cancer according to the most recently published colorectal cancer screening guidelines of a national cancer society.
 
SUMMARY
This bill removes references to the age of the patient for purposes of requiring coverage for colorectal cancer screening for asymptomatic individuals who are at average risk for colorectal cancer and instead requires coverage in accordance with the most recently published guidelines of a national cancer society. In addition, this bill requires coverage of all colorectal examinations and laboratory tests recommended by a health care provider in accordance with those published guidelines.