Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi SB2694: Health insurance; require coverage for biomarker testing for certain purposes when supported by medical and scientific evidence.
Status: Failed, March 3, 2026
AN ACT TO REQUIRE EACH HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT THAT IS ENTERED INTO OR RENEWED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2026, TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR BIOMARKER TESTING FOR THE PURPOSES OF DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT, OR ONGOING MONITORING OF AN ENROLLEE'S DISEASE OR CONDITION WHEN THE TEST IS SUPPORTED BY MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE; TO REQUIRE AN INSURER TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY DENIED CLAIM FOR COVERAGE OF TESTING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SUCH EVIDENCE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CONDUCT PERIODIC AUDITS AND REVIEWS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT; TO DEFINE "BIOMARKER TESTING" AND OTHER TERMS USED IN THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-13-117 AND 83-5-907, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to require each health benefit plan, contract or agreement that is entered into or renewed on or after july 1, 2026, to offer coverage for biomarker testing for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management, or ongoing monitoring of an enrollee's disease or condition when the test is supported by medical and scientific evidence; to require an insurer to provide specific written justification for any denied claim for coverage of testing that is supported by such evidence…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO REQUIRE EACH HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT THAT IS ENTERED INTO OR RENEWED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2026, TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR BIOMARKER TESTING FOR THE PURPOSES OF DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT, OR ONGOING MONITORING OF AN ENROLLEE'S DISEASE OR CONDITION WHEN THE TEST IS SUPPORTED BY MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE; TO REQUIRE AN INSURER TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY DENIED CLAIM FOR COVERAGE OF TESTING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY SUCH EVIDENCE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO CONDUCT PERIODIC AUDITS AND REVIEWS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT; TO DEFINE "BIOMARKER TESTING" AND OTHER TERMS USED IN THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 43-13-117 AND 83-5-907, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING PROVISIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed herein: (a) "Biomarker" means a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a specific therapeutic intervention, including known gene-drug interactions for medications being considered for use or already being administered. Biomarkers include, but are not *SS26/R475.1* S. B. No. 2694 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/SS26/R475.1 PAGE 1 (rdd\tb) limited to, gene mutations, characteristics …