04/02/1996 09:15 AM Senate FIN

                                                                               
  SENATE BILL NO. 253                                                          
                                                                               
       An Act relating to insurance coverage for costs of                      
       prostate cancer detection.                                              
                                                                               
  Co-chairman  Frank directed that  SB 253  be brought  on for                 
  discussion, noted adoption of Amendment No. 1 when the  bill                 
  was previously  before committee,  and referenced  Amendment                 
  No. 2.  Senator Rieger MOVED for adoption of Amendment No. 2                 
  and requested unanimous consent.  Co-chairman Frank objected                 
  for the purpose of an explanation.  Senator  Rieger attested                 
  to committee consensus  to investigate and add  coverage for                 
  annual pap  smear cancer  screening to  provide symmetry  to                 
  legislation covering prostate cancer detection.  Information                 
  obtained from  the  American  Cancer  Society  provided  the                 
  recommended  age  bracket included  in  the amendment.   The                 
  prime sponsor is supportive.                                                 
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp inquired  concerning the fiscal impact  of the                 
  addition.  Senator Rieger said he suspected the  approach to                 
  the addition would be similar to that for the original bill.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  The up-front cost of testing is well known, but the benefits                 
  of  prevention are  difficult to  quantify.   The theory  is                 
  that, overall, there is a cost savings.                                      
                                                                               
  Senator Sharp  attested to need for glaucoma testing as well                 
  and suggested that  it would  result in a  better return  on                 
  funding.                                                                     
                                                                               
  Co-chairman  Frank  called  for  objections  to adoption  of                 
  Amendment No. 2.  No objection having been raised, Amendment                 
  No. 2 was  ADOPTED.   Senator Zharoff MOVED  for passage  of                 
  CSSB  253 (Finance)  with  individual  recommendations.   No                 
  objection   having  been  raised,  CSSB  253  (Finance)  was                 
  REPORTED  OUT  of  committee  with  a  unanimous  "do  pass"                 
  recommendation  and  zero  fiscal notes  from  the  Dept. of                 
  Commerce   and  Economic  Development   and  the   Dept.  of                 
  Administration.