费城州众议员 Gallagher 结直肠癌筛查法案两院过关：保险承保起始年龄降至45岁且零自付，送州长签署
位于宾夕法尼亚州、县市合一的费城市，代表该市的州众议员 Pat Gallagher 提出的第1123号众议院法案（H.B. 1123）已获州众议院与州参议院两院通过，10月21日送交州长 Josh Shapiro 签署。法案要求健康保险保单自45岁起承保结直肠癌筛查，参保人无需自付费用。
宾夕法尼亚州现行法律要求自50岁起承保常规结直肠癌筛查，其依据是美国癌症协会2008年发布的标准；该协会2018年新版指南已把建议起始年龄降至45岁，其他数州已据此更新法律，宾夕法尼亚州卫生厅同样建议45岁开始筛查。法案除把承保起始年龄由50岁降至45岁外，还将法律援引的指南更新为最新版本，并把承保的检测项目更新为新版指南推荐的项目。
Gallagher 本人是结直肠癌康复者，代表费城东北部选区，选区办公室设在 Frankford Ave 与 Torresdale Ave 一带。他表示：「作为一名结直肠癌幸存者，我深知早期发现与适当治疗对患者意味着什么。这项立法不只是更新保险承保，更是挽救生命，确保没有人需要独自面对结直肠癌的挑战，确保每一位宾夕法尼亚州居民无论处境如何，都能获得可能带来完全不同结果的筛查。」（据宾夕法尼亚州众议院民主党党团10月21日发布）
Philadelphia Rep. Gallagher's Colorectal Cancer Screening Bill Passes Both Chambers: Insurance Coverage From Age 45 With No Cost-Sharing Heads to the Governor
In Philadelphia, the consolidated city-county in Pennsylvania, House Bill 1123, introduced by state Rep. Pat Gallagher of Philadelphia, has passed both the Pennsylvania House and Senate and was sent on October 21 to Gov. Josh Shapiro for his signature. The bill would require health insurance policies to cover colorectal cancer screenings beginning at age 45, with no cost-sharing for the insured.
Current Pennsylvania law requires coverage of routine colorectal cancer screenings starting at age 50, based on American Cancer Society standards published in 2008. The society's 2018 guidelines lowered the recommended starting age to 45, several other states have updated their laws accordingly, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health also recommends screening from age 45. In addition to lowering the coverage age from 50 to 45, the bill updates the guidelines referenced in state law to the most recent edition and updates the covered tests to those recommended by those guidelines.
Gallagher, who represents Northeast Philadelphia, with district offices on Frankford Avenue and Torresdale Avenue, is himself a colorectal cancer survivor. 'As a survivor of colorectal cancer, I know firsthand the impact that early detection and proper care can have on an individual's journey through the labyrinth of cancer,' he said. 'This legislation is not just about updating insurance coverage; it's about saving lives and ensuring that no one has to face the challenges of colorectal cancer alone and that every Pennsylvanian, regardless of their circumstances, can access the screenings that could make all the difference.' (Compiled from the October 21 release of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus)
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：宾夕法尼亚州议会大厦东侧实景，法案在 Harrisburg 两院通过后送州长签署。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons 文件 Pennsylvania State Capitol East Side.jpg，Kumar Appaiah 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0 授权
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