# Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1202: Coverage - Applicability > Arkansas · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1202 ## Section - **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1202 - **Heading:** Coverage - Applicability - **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** AR Code / Title 23 / Chapter 79 / Subchapter 12 / Section 23-79-1202 ## Text (a) A healthcare policy subject to this subchapter executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after August 1, 2005, shall include colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests within the healthcare policy's coverage. (b) The coverage shall include colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests for: (1) Covered persons who are forty-five (45) years of age or older; (2) Covered persons who are less than forty-five (45) years of age and at high risk for colorectal cancer according to colorectal cancer screening guidelines as they existed on January 1, 2021; and (3) Covered persons experiencing or meeting the following criteria or symptoms of colorectal cancer as determined by a physician licensed under the Arkansas Medical Practices Act, § 17-95-201 et seq., § 17-95-301 et seq., and § 17-95-401 et seq.: (A) Bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; (B) A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts more than five (5) days; or (C) The need for a follow-up colonoscopy. (c) After August 1, 2005, each employer that offers a healthcare policy to employees shall offer all eligible employees at the time of hiring or healthcare policy renewal a healthcare policy that includes colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests within the coverage of the employee's healthcare policy. (d) (1) The colorectal screening shall involve an examination of the entire colon, including: (A) All examinations, lab tests, or preventive screening tests assigned either a grade of "A" or a grade of "B" by the United States Preventive Services Task Force; and (B) Any additional medically recognized screening tests determined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer. (2) The covered person shall determine the choice of screening strategies in consultation with a healthcare provider. (3) Colorectal screening examinations shall be according to the choices and frequency provided by this subsection for all other covered persons. (e) (1) Screenings shall be limited to guidelines for the management or subsequent need for follow-up colonoscopy. (2) The guidelines described in subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall include a guideline stating that if a healthcare policy provides coverage to a resident of this state, then the healthcare policy shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements for: (A) A colonoscopy performed as a result of a positive result on a noncolonoscopy preventive screening test as described in subdivision (d)(1) of this section; or (B) Any additional noncolonoscopy preventive screening tests for colorectal cancer required by the Secretary of the Department of Health in consultation with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and consistent with guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Amended by Act 2021, No. 779,§ 3, eff. 1/1/2022. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5108, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 2005, No. 2236, § 2. (a) A healthcare policy subject to this subchapter executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after August 1, 2005, shall include colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests within the healthcare policy's coverage. k Force. Amended by Act 2021, No. 779,§ 3, eff. 1/1/2022. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5108, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 2005, No. 2236, § 2. (a) A healthcare policy subject to this subchapter executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after August 1, 2005, shall include colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests within the healthcare policy's coverage. (b) The coverage shall include colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests for: (1) Covered persons who are forty-five (45) years of age or older; (2) Covered persons who are less than forty-five (45) years of age and at high risk for colorectal cancer according to colorectal cancer screening guidelines as they existed on January 1, 2021; and (3) Covered persons experiencing or meeting the following criteria or symptoms of colorectal cancer as determined by a physician licensed under the Arkansas Medical Practices Act, § 17-95-201 et seq., § 17-95-301 et seq., and § 17-95-401 et seq.: (A) Bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; (B) A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts more than five (5) days; or (C) The need for a follow-up colonoscopy. (1) Covered persons who are forty-five (45) years of age or older; (2) Covered persons who are less than forty-five (45) years of age and at high risk for colorectal cancer according to colorectal cancer screening guidelines as they existed on January 1, 2021; and (3) Covered persons experiencing or meeting the following criteria or symptoms of colorectal cancer as determined by a physician licensed under the Arkansas Medical Practices Act, § 17-95-201 et seq., § 17-95-301 et seq., and § 17-95-401 et seq.: (A) Bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; (B) A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts more than five (5) days; or (C) The need for a follow-up colonoscopy. (A) Bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; (B) A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts more than five (5) days; or (C) The need for a follow-up colonoscopy. (c) After August 1, 2005, each employer that offers a healthcare policy to employees shall offer all eligible employees at the time of hiring or healthcare policy renewal a healthcare policy that includes colorectal cancer examinations and laboratory tests within the coverage of the employee's healthcare policy. (d) (1) The colorectal screening shall involve an examination of the entire colon, including: (A) All examinations, lab tests, or preventive screening tests assigned either a grade of "A" or a grade of "B" by the United States Preventive Services Task Force; and (B) Any additional medically recognized screening tests determined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer. (2) The covered person shall determine the choice of screening strategies in consultation with a healthcare provider. (3) Colorectal screening examinations shall be according to the choices and frequency provided by this subsection for all other covered persons. (1) The colorectal screening shall involve an examination of the entire colon, including: (A) All examinations, lab tests, or preventive screening tests assigned either a grade of "A" or a grade of "B" by the United States Preventive Services Task Force; and (B) Any additional medically recognized screening tests determined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer. (A) All examinations, lab tests, or preventive screening tests assigned either a grade of "A" or a grade of "B" by the United States Preventive Services Task Force; and (B) Any additional medically recognized screening tests determined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer. s determined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer. (A) All examinations, lab tests, or preventive screening tests assigned either a grade of "A" or a grade of "B" by the United States Preventive Services Task Force; and (B) Any additional medically recognized screening tests determined by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal cancer. (2) The covered person shall determine the choice of screening strategies in consultation with a healthcare provider. (3) Colorectal screening examinations shall be according to the choices and frequency provided by this subsection for all other covered persons. (e) (1) Screenings shall be limited to guidelines for the management or subsequent need for follow-up colonoscopy. (2) The guidelines described in subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall include a guideline stating that if a healthcare policy provides coverage to a resident of this state, then the healthcare policy shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements for: (A) A colonoscopy performed as a result of a positive result on a noncolonoscopy preventive screening test as described in subdivision (d)(1) of this section; or (B) Any additional noncolonoscopy preventive screening tests for colorectal cancer required by the Secretary of the Department of Health in consultation with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and consistent with guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. (1) Screenings shall be limited to guidelines for the management or subsequent need for follow-up colonoscopy. (2) The guidelines described in subdivision (e)(1) of this section shall include a guideline stating that if a healthcare policy provides coverage to a resident of this state, then the healthcare policy shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements for: (A) A colonoscopy performed as a result of a positive result on a noncolonoscopy preventive screening test as described in subdivision (d)(1) of this section; or (B) Any additional noncolonoscopy preventive screening tests for colorectal cancer required by the Secretary of the Department of Health in consultation with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and consistent with guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. (A) A colonoscopy performed as a result of a positive result on a noncolonoscopy preventive screening test as described in subdivision (d)(1) of this section; or (B) Any additional noncolonoscopy preventive screening tests for colorectal cancer required by the Secretary of the Department of Health in consultation with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and consistent with guidelines issued by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. Amended by Act 2021, No. 779,§ 3, eff. 1/1/2022. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 5108, eff. 7/1/2019. Acts 2005, No. 2236, § 2. ## Nearby sections - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1201 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1201.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1202 Coverage - Applicability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1202.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1203 Certain activities not prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1203.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1204 Exclusions and reductions - Benefits subject to annual deductible and coinsurance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1204.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1205 Coverage by participating providers - Selection criteria and utilization protocols - Maximum benefits - Exclusions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1205.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1206 Additional benefit costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1206.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1207 Cost-sharing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1207.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1208 Referrals to participating providers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1208.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-1209 Payment of nonparticipating providers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1209.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T23_C79_S12_S23-79-1202. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.