Senate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 509: Insurance; certain health benefit policies to cover an annual chest imaging test for a covered person who has undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment; provide

Last action February 17, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred

A Georgia Senate bill would require certain health insurance plans to cover an annual chest imaging test, plus any additional medically necessary tests, for people who have had a mastectomy or other cancer treatment.

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In plain language

Georgia already requires many health insurance plans to keep cost-sharing (deductibles, copays, coinsurance) for diagnostic and supplemental breast screening exams in line with what they charge for routine screening mammograms (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.32). This bill expands that law by adding a new requirement: health benefit policies that cover diagnostic breast exams must also cover an annual chest imaging test, and any further medically necessary and clinically appropriate chest imaging tests, for people who have undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment like chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The bill also broadens the definition of imaging covered under the law, adding a new term, 'chest imaging test,' that includes X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, PET scans, and CT scans of the chest, and adds a formal definition of 'mastectomy.' It also clarifies which insurance contracts count as a 'health benefit policy,' excluding certain limited-benefit and self-insured federal ERISA plans. The changes would take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to policies issued or renewed on or after that date.

What the bill does

Requires health benefit policies that cover diagnostic breast exams to also cover an annual chest imaging test for people who had a mastectomy or other cancer treatment.
Requires coverage of any additional chest imaging tests beyond the annual one if a doctor deems them medically necessary and clinically appropriate.
Adds a new legal definition of 'chest imaging test' covering X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, PET scans, and CT scans of the chest.
Adds a formal definition of 'mastectomy' as surgical removal of one or both breasts.
Clarifies that the coverage rules do not apply to certain limited-benefit insurance policies or to self-insured plans governed by the federal ERISA law.
Sets the changes to take effect July 1, 2026, applying to policies issued or renewed on or after that date.

Who it affects

Georgians enrolled in individual or group health benefit policies in the state, especially breast cancer survivors and others who have had a mastectomy or cancer treatment like chemotherapy or radiation. Health insurers, HMOs, preferred provider organizations, and the state employee and Medicaid-related health contracts referenced in the bill are also affected.

Why it matters

People who have had a mastectomy or cancer treatment often need ongoing chest imaging to monitor for recurrence. Under this bill, insurers covering diagnostic breast exams would have to pay for an annual chest scan and additional necessary scans, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs and access barriers for cancer survivors in Georgia.

Key provisions

Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.32 to add a new subsection (b.1) requiring coverage of an annual chest imaging test and additional medically necessary tests for those who had a mastectomy or cancer treatment.
Section 1 defines 'chest imaging test' to include X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, PET scans, and CT scans of the chest.
Section 1 adds a definition of 'mastectomy' as surgical removal of one or both breasts.
Section 1 revises the definition of 'health benefit policy' to include state employee and indigent-care contracts but exclude limited-benefit policies and self-insured ERISA plans.
Section 1 retains the existing rule that the Commissioner of Insurance must issue rules consistent with guidelines from professional medical organizations like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying to policies issued, delivered, or renewed on or after that date.
Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

From the bill

“A health benefit policy that provides coverage for diagnostic breast examinations shall provide coverage for an annual chest imaging test and any additional medically necessary and clinically appropriate chest imaging tests for a covered person who has undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.”
This new provision requires insurance coverage of ongoing chest imaging for mastectomy and cancer treatment patients.

“'Chest imaging test' means a diagnostic and screening tool used to create detailed, visual imagery of the chest to diagnose and monitor the absence, presence, or spread of a disease, including, but not limited to, cancer.”
This defines the new term covering the types of imaging insurers must cover under the bill.

Discussed in meetings (2)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, February 24, 2026
From 0:57:50 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented the bill as requiring annual chest imaging and additional medically necessary imaging after a mastectomy or other cancer treatment. Drawing on a family experience with breast cancer, the sponsor said follow-up imaging could help detect recurrence earlier and emphasized access to PET scans. The sponsor acknowledged their expense but argued that cancer treatment is also costly and that greater testing volume could lower scan costs. Asked about coverage, the sponsor said the bill included Medicaid and state employee coverage as well as individual and group policies. A member noted that federally governed employer plans were outside state authority and sought clarity about Medicaid programs serving people with disabilities. The sponsor did not have figures on affected Georgians or similar laws in other states and said there was no fiscal note. Members questioned who would determine medical necessity for additional scans. The sponsor said the oncologist; another member explained that insurers still approve or deny payment. A member urged review of that wording. The chair offered to work on coverage and implementation questions. Although the sponsor requested immediate action, the chair said this was a hearing only and pointed to Thursday's meeting. No vote occurred.

Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 17, 2026 (legislative day 19), 0:31:01

Status timeline

2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2026-02-12Senate Hopper (Senate)

Topics

health insurance coverage
breast cancer
cancer screening
insurance mandates
women's health

Ask about this bill

Machine-readable https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb509.md · https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md · MCP https://mcp.georgiacommons.org/mcp