A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCREASE THE WELLNESS BENEFIT UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' COMPREHENSIVE MAJOR MEDICAL PLAN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 135‑40.5(e) reads as rewritten:
"§ 135‑40.5.  Benefits not subject to deductible or coinsurance.
…
(e)	Routine Diagnostic Examinations. – The Plan will pay one hundred percent (100%) of allowable charges for routine diagnostic examinations and tests, including breast, colon, rectal, and prostate exams, X rays, mammograms, blood and blood pressure checks, urine tests, tuberculosis tests, and general health checkups that are medically necessary for the maintenance and improvement of individual health but no more often than once every three years for covered individuals to age 40 years, once every two years for covered individuals to age 50 years, and once a year for covered individuals age 50 years and older, unless a more frequent occurrence is warranted by a medical condition when such charges are incurred in a medically supervised facility. Routine diagnostic examinations and tests covered under this subsection also include one Pap smear per year for any covered female. Provided, however, that charges for such examinations and tests are not covered by the Plan when they are incurred to obtain or continue employment, to secure insurance coverage, to comply with legal proceedings, to attend schools or camps, to meet travel requirements, to participate in athletic and related activities, or to comply with governmental licensing requirements. The maximum amount payable under this subsection for a covered individual is three hundred dollars ($300.00) per fiscal year."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003.