Kansas House Bill HB2296

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/5/25
• Refer: 3/16/26

Caption

Requiring that certain health insurance plans impose a no-cost sharing requirement for a diagnostic or supplemental breast cancer examination for breast cancer imposed on an insured.

Summary

HB 2296 would require most Kansas health insurance policies and related coverage arrangements that include benefits for breast cancer screening to eliminate cost-sharing for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental breast examinations. The bill defines these exams to include medically necessary imaging such as diagnostic mammography, breast MRI, breast ultrasound, and contrast-enhanced mammography when used to evaluate an abnormality or to screen higher-risk patients based on personal or family history and other risk factors. The bill also addresses how the mandate would apply to high-deductible health plans and health savings accounts. If federal tax rules would make the no-cost-sharing requirement incompatible with HSA eligibility, the bill delays the requirement for HSA-qualified plans until the enrollee meets the federal minimum deductible, while preserving immediate first-dollar coverage for services treated as preventive care under federal law. The bill amends Kansas insurance statutes to incorporate this new coverage requirement into the state’s general insurance framework and nonprofit medical and hospital service corporation provisions, and it repeals the existing statutory sections it replaces.

Impact

HB 2296 would expand Kansas insurance law by adding a new coverage mandate for diagnostic and supplemental breast cancer examinations without deductibles, copays, or coinsurance, subject to the bill’s HSA-related exception. It applies broadly to individual and group health insurance policies, medical service plans, hospital service corporations, fraternal benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations delivered, issued, amended, or renewed in Kansas. The bill amends K.S.A. 40-2,103 and 40-19c09 to make the new requirement part of the statutes governing policies and nonprofit medical and hospital service corporations, and it repeals the prior versions of those sections.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broadly favorable support based on its bipartisan-looking sponsor list and its consumer- and patient-protection focus, though no committee transcript or vote record is provided to show debate or opposition. Its purpose is framed as reducing financial barriers to breast cancer diagnosis and follow-up care, which typically draws support from patient advocates, providers, and insurers seeking clearer coverage rules. Because the record provided contains no votes or hearing testimony, there is no documented formal sentiment beyond the bill’s protective policy design.

Contention

The main policy issue embedded in the bill is how to balance expanded breast cancer coverage with federal health savings account rules. The bill explicitly creates an exception for HSA-qualified high-deductible health plans if immediate first-dollar coverage would jeopardize HSA eligibility, which suggests that compliance with federal tax law is the primary technical concern. Another possible point of contention is the cost impact on insurers and premiums, since eliminating cost-sharing for additional breast imaging shifts more expenses to health plans, but no specific opposition is documented in the materials provided.