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Bill

HB 135

AN ACT relating to coverage for breast examinations.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Duvall and 1 co-sponsor

The bill would require health plans to cover breast examinations as a preventive service, improving access to preventive breast health care.

to Banking & Insurance (H)
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Bill Summary · HB 135

Summary of HB 135 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose and intent

HB 135 proposes to modify health insurance coverage requirements related to breast health services. Specifically, the bill aims to ensure or expand coverage for breast examinations as part of health insurance plans, with a focus on improving access to preventive breast health care.

Key provisions and changes (as suggested by title and typical scope)

  • Mandates or clarifies insurance coverage for breast examinations. This could include:
    • Preventive breast examinations performed by health care providers.
    • Coverage parity with other preventive services under standard health plans.
  • Potential alignment with national guidelines for breast cancer screening and preventive care, ensuring examinations are covered without imposing patient cost-sharing (e.g., copays, deductibles) in specified circumstances.
  • Possible requirements for health benefit plans to cover breast examinations as part of preventive services, potentially in-network or through a defined network of providers.
  • Administrative or compliance aspects, such as:
    • timelines for insurers to implement the coverage.
    • disclosures to enrollees about covered services.
    • reporting or oversight measures to ensure compliance with the statute.

Who would be affected

  • Health insurance policyholders in Kentucky, including individuals and small groups, who have plans subject to state insurance requirements.
  • Health insurers and Health Benefit Plans regulated by Kentucky Department of Banking and Insurance (which oversees the bill’s committee routing and jurisdiction).
  • Health care providers who perform breast examinations, including primary care physicians, obstetricians/gynecologists, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians delivering preventive breast health services.
  • Employers offering self-insured or fully insured plans, depending on how the bill’s provisions are written and whether it targets fully insured plans, large group plans, or all insurance products regulated by the state.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Origination and referral: The bill was introduced in the Kentucky House of Representatives on January 7, 2026, and assigned to the Banking & Insurance Committee. It was also sent to the Committee on Committees (H) for initial organizational processing.
  • Next steps typical in the legislature:
    • The Banking & Insurance Committee would review, hear testimony, and may amend the bill.
    • If approved by the committee, the bill would move to the House floor for debate and a vote, and then proceed to the Senate (with corresponding committee referrals) for further consideration.
    • Possible amendments, reconciliations, and final passage would be required before sending to the governor for signature or veto.
  • Effective date: Any enacted revisions typically specify an effective date (e.g., immediate, or after a defined number of days post-enactment). The text provided does not include an effective date; the final bill would state this.

Notes and considerations

  • Specific dollar amounts, copayment waivers, or service definitions (e.g., frequency of recommended breast examinations, age groups, or whether the coverage applies to both preventive screening and diagnostic examinations) are not detailed in the provided summary. The final bill text would clarify:
    • Whether the coverage applies to all breast examinations or specifically to preventive services.
    • Any exemptions or limitations (e.g., deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, or network requirements).
    • Definitions of what constitutes a covered "breast examination" (e.g., clinical breast exams, imaging referrals when indicated, or mammography as part of a bundled preventive service).

If you’d like, I can integrate the exact text from the bill once available to provide a more precise provision-by-provision outline.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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