(a) All group and blanket health insurance policies which are delivered or issued for delivery or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 2001, by any health insurer or health service corporation shall provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening.
(b) Colorectal cancer screening covered by this section shall include:
(1) For persons 50 years of age or older screening with an annual fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, or in appropriate circumstances radiologic imaging or other screening modalities, shall be provided as determined by the Secretary of Health and Social Services of this State after consideration of recommendations of the Delaware Cancer Consortium and the most recently published recommendations established by the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Cancer Society, the United States Preventive Task Force Services for the ages, family histories and frequencies referenced in such recommendations and deemed appropriate by the attending physician.
(2) For persons who are deemed at high risk for colon cancer because of:
a. Family history of familial adenomatous polyposis;
b. Family history of hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer;
c. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease;
d. Family history of breast, ovarian, endometrial, colon cancer or polyps; or
e. A background, ethnicity or lifestyle such that the health-care provider treating the participant or beneficiary believes he or she is at elevated risk;
screening with an annual fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, or in appropriate circumstances radiologic imaging or other screening modalities, or other screening modalities, shall be provided as determined by the Secretary of Health and Social Services of this State after consideration of recommendations of the Delaware Cancer Consortium and the most recently published recommendations established by the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Cancer Society, the United States Preventive Task Force Services for the ages, family histories and frequencies referenced in such recommendations and deemed appropriate by the attending physician.
(3) For all persons covered pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section, colorectal cancer screening shall include the use of anesthetic agents, including general anesthesia, in connection with colonoscopies and endoscopies performed in accordance with generally-accepted standards of medical practice and all applicable patient safety laws and regulations, if the use of such anesthetic agents is medically necessary in the judgment of the treating physician.