--- title: 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 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sb509 cite_as: SB 509, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb509 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb509.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb509/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73203 date: 2026-02-17 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb508.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb510.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 95 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb509.md?full=1 bill_number: SB 509 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: bill status_date: 2026-02-12 last_action: Senate Read and Referred sponsors: - Ricky Williams - Max Burns - Jason T. Dickerson - Randy Robertson - Frank Ginn - Lee Anderson - Billy Hickman - John Albers - Bo Hatchett - Bill Cowsert - Chuck Payne - Brian Strickland - Matt Brass - Freddie Sims - Nikki Merritt - Donzella James - Tonya Anderson - Sally Harrell - Kenya Wicks - Nan Orrock - Elena Parent - Sonya Halpern text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB509/2025 upstream_id: 2116192 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - health insurance coverage - breast cancer - cancer screening - insurance mandates - women's health --- # 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 ## Text Senate Bill 509 By: Senators Williams of the 25th, Burns of the 23rd, Dickerson of the 21st, Robertson of the 29th, Ginn of the 47th and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance generally, so as to provide for certain health benefit policies to cover an annual chest imaging test and any additional medically necessary chest imaging tests for a covered person who has undergone a mastectomy or other cancer treatment; to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to insurance generally, is amended by revising Code Section 33-24-59.32, relating to cost-sharing requirements for diagnostic and supplemental breast screening examinations, as follows: "33-24-59.32. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Breast magnetic resonance imaging' or 'breast MRI' means a diagnostic and screening tool, including standard and abbreviated breast MRI, that uses radio waves and magnets to produce detailed images of structures within the breast. (2) 'Breast ultrasound' means a noninvasive diagnostic and screening tool that uses high-frequency sound waves and their echoes to produce detailed images of structures within the breast. (3) '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. Such term shall include X-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography scans, and computed tomography scans of the chest. (4) 'Cost-sharing requirement' means a deductible, coinsurance, or copayment and any maximum limitation on the application of such a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or similar out-of-pocket expense. (4)(5) 'Diagnostic breast examination' means a medically necessary and clinically appropriate examination of the breast, including such examination using breast MRI, breast ultrasound, or mammogram, that is: (A) Used to evaluate an abnormality seen or suspected from a screening examination for breast cancer; or (B) Used to evaluate an abnormality detected by another means of examination. (5)(6) 'Health benefit policy' means any individual or group plan, policy, or contract for health care healthcare services issued, delivered, issued for delivery, executed, or renewed by an insurer in this state, including, but not limited to, those contracts executed by the state on behalf of indigents and on behalf of state employees under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45, by a healthcare corporation, health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, accident and sickness insurer, fraternal benefit society, or other insurer or similar entity. Such term shall not include any policy of limited benefit insurance as defined in paragraph (4) of subsection (e) of Code Section 33-30-12. Such term shall not include any self-insured health benefit plan subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. Section 1001, et seq. (6)(7) 'Insurer' means any person, corporation, or other entity authorized to provide health benefit policies under this title. (7)(8) 'Mammogram' means a diagnostic or screening mammography exam using a low-dose X-ray to produce an image of the breast. (9) 'Mastectomy' means surgical removal of one or both breasts. (8)(10) 'Supplemental breast screening examination' means a medically necessary and clinically appropriate examination of the breast, including such examination using breast MRI, breast ultrasound, or mammogram, that is: (A) Used to screen for breast cancer when there is no abnormality seen or suspected in the breast; or (B) Based on personal or family medical history or additional factors that may increase the individual's risk of breast cancer. (b) A health benefit policy that provides coverage for diagnostic breast examinations for breast cancer shall include provisions that ensure that the cost-sharing requirements applicable to diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast screening examinations are no less favorable than the cost-sharing requirements applicable to screening mammography for breast cancer. (b.1) 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. (c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to preclude existing utilization review provided under Chapter 46 of this title. (d) If under federal law application of subsection (b) of this Code section would result in Health Savings Account ineligibility under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, such cost-sharing requirement shall apply only for Health Savings Account qualified High Deductible Health Plans with respect to the deductible of such plan after the enrollee has satisfied the minimum deductible under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, except with respect to items or services that are preventive care pursuant to Section 223(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which case the requirements of subsection (b) of this Code section shall apply regardless of whether the minimum deductible under Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code has been satisfied. (e) The Commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section in accordance with current guidelines established by professional medical organizations such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network." SECTION 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026, and shall apply to all policies or contracts issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after such date. SECTION 3. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. 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. ### Plain-language summary 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 it 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. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-12) - Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-02-17) - Sponsors: Ricky Williams, Max Burns, Jason T. Dickerson, Randy Robertson, Frank Ginn, Lee Anderson, Billy Hickman, John Albers, Bo Hatchett, Bill Cowsert, Chuck Payne, Brian Strickland, Matt Brass, Freddie Sims, Nikki Merritt, Donzella James, Tonya Anderson, Sally Harrell, Kenya Wicks, Nan Orrock, Elena Parent, Sonya Halpern - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73203 > The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb509.md?full=1