(a) Every health care service plan contract, except a specialized health care service plan contract, that is issued, amended, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000, shall provide coverage for screening for, diagnosis of, and treatment for, breast cancer.
(b) No health care service plan contract shall deny enrollment or coverage to an individual solely due to a family history of breast cancer, or who has had one or more diagnostic procedures for breast disease but has not developed or been diagnosed with breast cancer.
(c) Every health care service plan contract shall cover screening and diagnosis of breast cancer, consistent with generally accepted medical practice and scientific evidence, upon the referral of the enrollee’s participating physician.
(d) Treatment for breast cancer under this section shall include coverage for prosthetic devices or reconstructive surgery to restore and achieve symmetry for the patient incident to a mastectomy. Coverage for prosthetic devices and reconstructive surgery shall be subject to the copayment, or deductible and coinsurance conditions, that are applicable to the mastectomy and all other terms and conditions applicable to other benefits.
(e) As used in this section, “mastectomy” means the removal of all or part of the breast for medically necessary reasons, as determined by a licensed physician and surgeon. Partial removal of a breast includes, but is not limited to, lumpectomy, which includes surgical removal of the tumor with clear margins.
(f) As used in this section, “prosthetic devices” means the provision of initial and subsequent devices pursuant to an order of the patient’s physician and surgeon.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 449, Sec. 2. (SB 255) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018