ARIZONA STATE SENATE
RESEARCH STAFF
TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE
DATE: February 6, 2023
SUBJECT: Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1052, relating to biomarker testing; insurance
coverage; definitions
Purpose
Excludes limited benefit coverage from a policy issued or renewed by a disability insurer
or group or blanket disability insurer for the purpose of providing coverage of biomarker testing.
Background
The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions regulates policies, certificates,
evidences of coverage and contracts of insurance that are issued or delivered by health care
insurers. Health care insurers include disability insurers, group disability insurers, blanket
disability insurers, health care services organizations, hospital service corporations and medical
service corporations (A.R.S. § 20-1379).
In 2022, the Legislature enacted legislation to require, for contracts, evidences of coverage
and policies issued, a hospital or medical service corporation, health care service organization,
disability insurer and group or blanket disability insurer to provide biomarker testing (Laws 2022,
Ch. 219). Biomarker testing aids in the diagnosing and monitoring of cancer during and after
treatment. Each person's cancer presents a unique pattern of biomarkers and some cancer
treatments may only work for individuals whose cancers have certain biomarkers (NCI).
Statute defines limited benefit coverage as an insurance policy that is designed, advertised
and marketed to supplement major medical insurance and that includes accident only, dental only,
vision only, disability income only, fixed or hospital indemnity, specified disease insurance, credit
insurance or Taft-Hartley trusts (A.R.S. § 20-1137).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Excludes limited benefit coverage from a policy issued or renewed by a disability insurer or
group or blanket disability insurer for the purpose of providing coverage of biomarker testing.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
JASON THEODOROU
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST
COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Telephone: (602) 926-3171